SALT LAKE CITY -- Embattled Rep. Justin Miller told FOX 13 he would not resign his seat, despite calls by his colleagues in the Utah State Legislature to step down.
"I don't know what to expect right now, but I'll continue serving the constituents of District 40," Rep. Miller, D-Salt Lake City, said as he left a committee meeting during the legislature's interim committee on Wednesday.
Miller is facing a criminal investigation, accused of taking more than $30,000 in campaign funds from his former boss, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. Miller has claimed in the past he is a whistleblower on questionable contracts in the mayor's office (the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office has said that claim is without merit). The investigation will be referred to the Davis County Attorney to determine if any charges are warranted.
Rep. Justin Miller, D-Salt Lake City, attends a committee hearing on the Utah State Legislature's interim session on June 17, 2015.
After weeks of silence, the Utah Democratic Party urged Miller to show evidence to clear himself. On Monday, the House Minority Caucus called for him to resign, claiming the mounting accusations are a distraction to the business of the legislature. On Wednesday, they met in caucus without him (Miller previously told FOX 13 he would not be attending).
"It's been an interesting week," House Minority Leader Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, said.
Rep. King said he had spoken with Miller earlier in the week and told him some House Democrats didn't want him to attend the caucus meeting.
"We don’t know what will happen next. We wanted to give him some time to consider this," King told his fellow Democrats.
Rep. Susan Duckworth, D-Magna, asked if the media was leaving him alone. Other caucus members said the press was doing its job.
In an interview with FOX 13, Rep. King said the caucus had begun considering options to possibly oust Rep. Miller from office if the situation went on for too long.
"Some are easier and some are harder," he said. "Some are more time and money and resource intensive or less."
King said his hope was that Miller would step down within the next week.
"I’m hoping we won’t have to get to that point because I’m hoping he will resign. But if he doesn’t, we’ll look more carefully and more thoroughly at them," he said.
