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SALT LAKE CITY -- The woman at the center of the latest scandal to rock the Utah State Capitol is speaking out, and she says House Majority Leader Kevin Garn did not tell all.
Garn shocked lawmakers Thursday night with a startling admission at the close of this years' legislative session. He said he went into a hot tub, naked, with a 15-year-old girl in 1983, and later paid her $150,000 to keep quiet.
"While this payment felt like extortion, I also felt like I should take her word that the money would help her heal. She agreed to keep this 25-year-old incident confidential. Now that this issue has come up again, it's become apparent to me that this payment was a mistake," Garn said.
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Utah politicians react to Garn confession
A stunning admission came late Thursday night as the Utah Legislature wrapped up its session. The shock, and the fallout, continued Friday.A woman identifying herself as Cheryl Maher called and e-mailed KSL Newsradio Friday from New Hampshire. She said she worked for Garn's businesses and as his babysitter.
"Back in 2002, I was the walking dead," Maher said. "I was a mess. I was in a horrible marriage."
She said there was a lot Garn didn't admit. Of the hot tub incident, Maher told City Weekly, "Let's just say this: he really loves to massage."
Maher said she chose to go public to help others.
"I came forward because, for me, I want to speak the truth about my life. My adventures in life will be helping other women that will be in crisis," Maher said.
In an e-mail, she said Garn was her Sunday school teacher when she was in fourth grade. Later, when she worked for him, Garn would stare at her, take her to lunch and shopping, and finally to a hot tub -- after stopping first for alcohol.
"So, this wasn't just one incident. This was a series of things that happened over months and months," Maher said. "It was a relationship that was going on that was completely inappropriate."
Republican lawmakers we talked to say they're waiting for Garn to make his own decision whether to stay in office. But one Republican, Kirk Jowers of the Hinckley, was bothered by last night's standing ovation in the house. Sympathy is probably warranted, he said, but cheering is not.
Story compiled with contributions from Andrew Adams and John Hollenhorst.
