Normally I would not post about a elected official of either party being outed for having fun time with a sex worker.
I’m a live and let live kinda guy.
But when that lawmaker loudly proclaims his “family values” cred on his website, votes for a bill in his State House mandating tougher penalties for solicitation of prostitution, and seeks reimbursement from his campaign for “$1,510 for “extra hotel expense session lodging” at the Salt Lake City Marriott Residence for rooms the State Government had already ponied up $225 for — and abruptly resigns when it is reported, well... I’m inclined to make an exception.
Standard Examiner (Ogden, Utah)
“A former Utah lawmaker purchased at least two hotel rooms with taxpayer money that he is accused of using to meet up with a prostitute, according to copies of his receipts provided to The Associated Press…..
...In Stanard’s case, receipts provided by the Utah House show he was reimbursed about $225 for hotel rooms in Salt Lake City in June and August 2017 when he was attending legislative meetings at the state Capitol. He lives four hours away in the resort town of St. George….
...Stanard, who abruptly resigned Tuesday night, has not returned phone and text messages seeking comment, and his lawyer, Walter Bugden, has declined to comment.
Republican House Speaker Greg Hughes said he didn’t yet know if the House would ask Stanard to return the money or what the next steps would be to determine if the report was correct.
Even if the allegations are true, “our hotel policy doesn’t dictate what a person is allowed to do in the hotel and he was here and in attendance for all legislative business,” House Chief of Staff Greg Hartley said Friday.
Stanard, who is married, had served five years in the House. He voted last year for stricter state prostitution laws, including raising the penalty for people who are convicted twice of solicitation.
His 2017 campaign finance report shows he submitted an expense on March 10 for $1,510 for “extra hotel expense session lodging” at the “Marriott Residence.”
I won’t link to the Daily Mail report that started this shite storm and has all the juicy details, including requests to Ms. Taylor for accessories and wardrobe items - and “extra expense” activities - but, as long time N.Y. Yankees manager Casey Stengel used to say…
“You could look it up.”