The saga of former Utah Speaker of the House Mel Brown's fall from his lofty legislative post last year contains a highly disputed chapter buried in the divorce file of a woman he is dating.
Brown, R-Midvale, talked about possible employment at US WEST as early as the 1998 Legislature, according to sworn court documents. Brown denies the allegation.It was his chat with a US WEST lobbyist about future job prospects and a relationship with a married woman that cost him the chance for a third term as speaker.
Jeffrey Lewis Kitchen's affidavit in 4th District Court in Provo describes conversations he had with his sister-in-law, Jill Kitchen, while carpooling to the state Capitol where he worked as an intern during the 1998 legislative session. Jill Kitchen, 35, was Brown's legislative assistant.
Brown, 61, said he and Jill Kitchen are now dating. She accompanied him to the Governor's Ball earlier this year.
In the April 7, 1999, affidavit filed in the divorce case of Douglas O. and Jill Kitchen, Jeff Kitchen says, "On a number of times I have heard her boast how Mr. Brown had used his influence to deal with a traffic ticket which had been given to his mother. She told me that Mr. Brown was going to assist her in obtaining a job as a lobbyist for approximately $90,000 a year. Additionally, she told me that Mr. Brown had been offered a lucrative salary with US WEST after he retired from the Legislature."
Brown, who was aware of the affidavit as well as a second one prior to being contacted by the Deseret News, called the statements "absurd" and "ridiculous." He said both affidavits are false and that "when they get involved in a divorce, some people will say anything."
"I have never been tendered an offer by US WEST," Brown said.
Jill Kitchen referred questions about the affidavits to her attorney, Jim Lewis.
Lewis said his client "absolutely denies that that conversation took place. It's completely false."
Brown has maintained he did nothing wrong since portions of a lunch meeting he had with US WEST lobbyist Rob Jolley were overheard at a Salt Lake restaurant in October 1998 and reported in the media. Brown and Jolley reportedly talked about a lobbying job with US WEST as well as the legislator's marital problems.
A House Ethics Committed cleared Brown of wrongdoing last December, ruling he did not solicit or accept an offer or contract from US WEST. Brown said the panel questioned him not only about his conversation with Jolley but if on any occasion he was offered employment. "I never discussed it with anybody," he said.
With political and personal controversy swirling around him before the 1999 Legislature, Brown decided not to run for speaker again.
Brown said he filed for divorce from his wife of 40 years in January. A settlement is pending. The case is sealed in 3rd District Court. Last year at the height of his troubles, Brown said he did not know whether he would get a divorce.
The Kitchens' divorce was finalized in January, though some matters remain unresolved.
An anonymous letter circulated to the media last year alleged an affair between Brown and Jill Kitchen. Brown acknowledged at the time that he did have a relationship with her but said that it was not sexual.
Douglas Kitchen also says in an affidavit that his ex-wife brought up an employment opportunity for Brown in conversation with him.
"She told me that her friend would soon have a lobbying job with a salary exceeding $200,000 a year and that she would soon have a lobbying job with a salary exceeding $70,000 a year," according to a March 1, 1999 sworn statement.
Jill Kitchen denies making those comments to her ex-husband, Lewis said.
Legislators talking about potential jobs is no big deal anyway, Brown said.
"The question is, after you're out of the Legislature, what difference does it make?" he said. "To think that someone has never talked to someone else about a job while they're in the Legislature is absurd. You know it and I know it."