I voted for Walker out of ignorance, then I saw he was another East side Croni, and told my wife to vote for Ellis, sure glad Walker is out.

Now we only have 79 more cronies to get out, one less, Yahoo!

This is the obvious result. He was already a lame-duck legislator. Walker couldn't testify to defend himself because of the ongoing criminal charges, so all this political grandstanding would be is a bunch of hearsay. It is too bad the committee couldn't figure that out before today. I guess they can look into Mascaro now . . . they have nothing else to do. Maybe they should try to be productive for a change.

Yahoo, let your wife think for herself.

Congrats to Richard Ellis, Sheryl Allen and David Irvine for taking politics to its lowest possible form. The character assasination of Mark Walker will only keep more good people from entering politics. You should be ashamed.

They really do need to go after Mascaro, even if he opposes vouchers and supports higher taxes on the rich. Right is right, wrong is wrong.

I just hope we discover the truth. The allegations are serious and should still be taken seriously. If the allegations are true, Utahns should not tolerate it.

Hey, Yahoo,
Do you always tell your wife how to vote? Just wondered.

...to quench a much-larger investigation into the top reaches of Utah's Republican party.

Unfortunately, it will probably work.

To Jeff: why are you still defending Walker? If he did nothing wrong, then he should have nothing to fear in front of an investigation. In fact, he should welcome an investigation to clear his name. He even admitted in the resignation letter, "I may have made some mistakes in judgment."

If you want to help Walker, don't post here; help him find a job.

The graft of so many Republican years in absolute power is starting to surface and it stinks.

I agree. Walker either resigned to cover himself or a fellow legislator (Curtis?).

Talk about falling on your sword for Curtis and the boys. Walker was the good soldier even to the very end.

Lets build a memorial for walker and and praise what a hero he is for falling on the sword. Just remember, Don't blame me I voted democrat!

The man resigned. Do you not think an innocent person would want to clear his good name? He saw the writing on the wall. There were plenty of witnesses other than Empey who were going to testify. The only unfortunate part of this is that we will never know for sure that Greg Curtis was the person who ultimatley would see that the bribe would happen.

I somewhat feel sorry for the guy but he never should have been so arrogant to think he would get away with doing something like this.

The Republicans in Utah have become so entrenched with entitlement and power that even when a legislator resigns, there are still citizens defending him. I'm sorry, but if he were innocent he would not have resigned. It's time to clean up politics in this state and I wish they would all resign. And when I say all, I mean every single one - both Democrat and Republican.

To review, Mark Walker doesn't sign anything to affirm his innocence (probably doesn't want to commit perjury), hides behind the Lieutenant Governor's decision not to investigate the "allegation" against him when the claim was made and now decides to resign before having to expose an unnamed legislator (i.e. Greg Curtis) for his part in extending a bribe.

If he weren't guilty, he would have been the first person demanding an immediate investigation into the matter and/or appearing before the ethics committee to clear his name. However, this hasn't happened for obvious reasons.

The next step to facilitating real change within the GOP of this state is by removing the cancer that is Greg Curtis, the chief puppet master. Wake up Utah and make sure to vote him out of office in November. He is an embarassment to the Republican party and to this great state.

Corrupt party.
Corrupt representatives.
Corrupt good ol' boys club.

This so-called ethics committee was just a kangaroo court. The only 3 witnesses that mattered here were Walker, Ellis and Empey. All 3 are subject to an on going criminal investigation. I guarantee all 3 have criminal defense lawyers telling them not to testify. That leaves a bunch of bystanders to discuss hearsay.

Ellis and Empey already filed an affidavit that they knew the offer was illegal and yet continued discussions with Walker. The prosecutors will slap all 3 on the wrist. Walker is already out of a job; Ellis and Empey are next.

Another one with dirty hands gone. When will the others be gone?

Wonder who told Walker that they would take care of him if he just resigned? Good old boys protecting the good old boys. If now we could just get rid of the Curtises of the world.

Seems that Walker and the other legislator (Curtis?) cannot operate in the light. What does that tell you Utah?

I could care less about the Treasurer's Office generally, but this activity stinks. I agree that Walker, Ellis, and Empey all get slaps on the wrist.

For the first time this November, I will actually vote, in good conscience, for a Democrat to be State Treasurer. I never cared before. But under the current circumstances, I cannot stand to see the dirty political games Ellis played be rewarded. May he lose hiw own job, just as Mark Walker did. I guess if you're an R like me, and you have to give in to the Ds, Treasurer is the place to start.

The real investigation is ongoing, so let justice run its course and reserve your judgement until all facts are heard. In this country we are all innocent until proven guilty.

Don't forget the other witnesses, Fred. Plenty of other witnesses and documents ready to go. Why wouldn't Ellis and Empey testify? They have both already signed sworn affidavits of what happened. It's Walker who has legally signed his name to nothing. Although I guess he did sign the resignation letter someone wrote for him.

Does Curtis have his defense attorney yet?

it's always u same conspiratorial crackpots posting about this story. You all need to get a life, none of you know what you're talking about which means you could all qualify as journalists under the SL Trib standards. Go get a job there and leave the rest of the world alone. You should all be investigated for your crime against the people; painful stupidity.

The Republican leadership of this state stinks. The biggest rotten apples remaining are Curtis, Shurtleff and Huntsman. They all need to go. Join me and fight for them all to be removed this November. Curtis just has to go, he's done so many dumb things and plays the retribution game to the hilt. Salt Lake County has been irrepairably hurt by his actions. Stop the Retrubution in Utah, get these bad apples out of office. Note: I've voted Republican in every elections since 1972. But not this year no way.

Mark Walker was the good solider for the the bigger apples that's for sure. He was their yes man and now look at all the mess that has been revealed.

I wonder how much he was offered to resign?

GOOD WE DO NOT NEED PEOPLE LIKE HIM TO MAKE LAWS.

Just watch Walker land in Curtis's law firm or doing grunt work in the AG office. The GOP leaders take care of their scapegoats.

Jeff,

"Congrats to Richard Ellis, Sheryl Allen and David Irvine for taking politics to its lowest possible form. The character assasination of Mark Walker will only keep more good people from entering politics. You should be ashamed."

If you call asking for an ethics investigation and drawing attention to facts character assassination you are as corrupt as Walker yet more importantly you are a hypocrite since you attack the character of Ellis, Allen and Irvine in your post.

So I wonder who will be appointed to fill Walker's vacancy. Could it be Brian Monsen as a way to give the GOP candidate a leg up just before the Nov. election?

The corruption now prevalent in the Utah GOP is a disgrace! I have been an independent voter ever since I began to vote 35 years ago. I have often voted for GOP candidates believing they would serve the principles of our founding fathers. The track record of our Utah 'Rs' runs contrary to what those principles are. My disgust is so high that I served as a delegate to the recent county and state Deomcratic conventions. While I can't vote for Sen. Obama I will vote for a nearly full slate of state and local Democratic candidates this year. The fault lies with the Utah Republican Party.
It is past time for Republican officials to be held accountable for their actions. Instead of excoriating Richard Ellis, Sheryl Allen and David Irvine we ought to thank them for beginning this accountability process. Others must be held accountable too - Rep. Curtis, Sen. Buttars, Sen. Bramble, Sen. Stephenson, AG Shurtleff and even Gov. Huntsman.
Utah you must investigate what your elected officials have done, not what they say. You will be surprised that they often act differently than what they tell us they will do. Elect folks who will represent us.

I'm with you MadMax!

Some people would use any excuse to promote their Liberal Leftist agenda. Mr. Walker vacated his office. He must have had a good reason to do that; otherwise he would still be in office.

That takes courage. That takes valor. Even if he is guilty, it takes courage to step aside.

For the Liberal Left to make an issue against Conservatives because Mr. Walker did the right thing, is to show that they have no honor nor valor. They look for any opportunity to smear anyone on any subject.

Everyone should be applauding the fact that Mr. Walker admitted by his resignation that things were not as they should be in his office or in his conduct. What more should we expect?

How about if some of the Liberal Left bigots resign from their position of public trust for their thoughtless and self-centered comments as they try to advance their agenda at the expense of the public?

The far-righters will defend this sort of corruption until hell freezes over.
Try as they may to blame the liberals, this will never happen.
People are much smarter and politically savvy than the ignorant conservatives would like to think.
That's why people are registering in droves to vote Democratic in November.

Mike:

Mr. Walker, in stepping aside, in fact admitted to ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! He still claims, despite his own "mistakes in judgment," it's others who are really at fault here and out to get him. It doesn't take "courage" and "valor" to step aside- again smearing your accusers in the process- to spare yourself the shame that you deserve for your conduct and lies.

And it's not the "liberal left" going after Mark Walker. Keep in mind, that election he lost in a landslide was a closed republican primary. I am a conservative republican person and have no issues with the truth being brought to light at Mark's expense.

You say, "What more should we expect" of Mark Walker. How about some accountability? Some humility? An apology?

I don't think that Mike Richards and the rest of us have been reading the same article. Too bizarre.

You are starting to sound like your tinfoil hat is worn out and needs to be replaced.

Check out Curtis' law firm (hbcalaw). Curtis is using one of his own lawyers to defend Walker in order to make sure Curtis' name stays out of this. Why else would a real estate lawyer be defending a legislator's ethics violation?

I agree with "Jeff | 9:41 a.m.". If Walker is guilty of bribery, Ellis is also dirty (he attended several meetings where he KNEW the offer at the root of the scandal was going to be discussed, then he didn't say anything to authorities until revealing the information could do maximum damage to his apponent and there wouldn't be enough time to resolve the issue or prove Ellis' involvement before the election was over).

Those who say, "Congrats to Richard Ellis", are congratulating someone for perfectly executing the dirtiest form of politics if you ask me. Ellis is just as dirty in this as Walker is. Neither of them deserver to be anywhere NEAR our government nor our money. (just my opinion).

Corruption happens when there is a one party system. The Utah GOP proves power corrupts. It is too bad that many of today's Utah Democrats are not social conservatives like many of the Utah Democrats of the 60's and 70's. Gov. Rampton, Gov. Matheson, U.S. Rep. McKay, and others were excellent conservative Democrats. I miss 'em. Our current state legislature is a corrupt mess.

I am pleased that Rep. Matheson is a good middle of the road representative. He's a keeper.

Give me a break!
Walker vacated his office because (like so many conservatives) got caught doing something he shouldn't have geen doing.
This is the problem when the far-right really believe right is right. They thing they can get away with anything.

This mess is what we've earned with a one party system in Utah. Walker obviously resigned under presure to avoid the ethics investigation. By the time they get around to the criminal side of this mess it will be old news, The Republican Leadership will proclaim that he's paid enough penalty already and the fiasco will be swept under the rug. No wonder our upstanding leadership in the legislature always kill ethics reform bills yearly on arrival. If voters don't wake-up we'll see more of the same.

Too "JustSayNoToRepublicans | 1:41 p.m." and "Anonymous | 2:20 p.m."...

This isn't a simple "Elect more Democrats" or "Don't vote Republican" issue (though I'm sure that is the only solution partisan hacks can comprehend).

While this IS a black-eye for Republicans, I haven't seen any proof that Democrats are immune to this type of corruption. No policical party (R or D) has a corner on Morality. So just switching Democrats for Republicans doesn't necesarily fix the problem (unless your real goal is more Democrats).

Booting all Republicans and replacing them with Democrats DOESN'T guarantee this problem will end (unlike the rhetoric the partisan hacks will give you).

There are good people in both parties. We just need to find them.

I'm a good republican and a card carrying member of the GOP party. But after all of this I will vote for the Democrat, just because. Eillis is just as bad as the rest. I don't believe his hands are clean either. I feel for Mark Walker, he may have made a mistakes and he has paid the price and will continue to do so. Yes I believe Mr. Curtis is behind if not most of it all of it. The guy is a bad apple, yes he needs to go. I just hope people will get out and vote and review the facts.

I have also decided that I will vote a straight democratic ticket because I simply cannot recall any office holder from the democrat party ever being involved in scandal or impropriety. Democrats hold themselves to a standard higher than anybody else in the whole world. They are also smarter than anyone else in the whole world. God bless the democrat party. Why would anyone vote for someone who is not in the democrat party?

RE: Mike Richards,

"And it's not the "liberal left" going after Mark Walker. Keep in mind, that election he lost in a landslide was a closed republican primary. I am a conservative republican person and have no issues with the truth being brought to light at Mark's expense."

The silent majority in the Republican Party stood up. They are fed up with the corruption, back-room deals and dishonest shenanigans. When the Republican National Committeewoman denounces the Utah County Republican Party and refers to their recent conduct as a "scheme" and say "It's just wrong and unfair," and "It allows party leaders to control who fills those seats rather than it be done on the precinct level."

The Republican Party Caucuses and Conventions is a nasty and disgusting experience. When you hear the Governor of the State being booed by members of his own party you begin to see that the far-right nuts control the Republican Caucuses and Conventions and that is why Walker came out ahead in the Convention but was overwhelmingly defeated in the Primary.

Even Republicans (the normal ones that is) are fed up with the corruption, dishonesty, and shenanigans.

Let's vote for conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans!

Mike Ricards is just another confused Limbaughite who is fulfilling his duty and loyalty to his conservative guru who recently told his flock to "keep the pressure on liberals."
Probably sensing the end is near for the new American conservative movement.

If memory serves this will be the 3 time that a republican has resigned their post with enough time for the GOB (Good 'Ole Boys)to assign a replacement prior to the election.

This will create the royal flush or holy pantheon if you will of candidates in Utah which is an incumbent Republican.

Hopefully people will get informed and stop blindly voting. Here's to a candidate that actually deserves to be there!

Hopefully, the voters in November will clean up the rest of this corrupt bunch, such as Curtis, Bramble, and Buttars.