WASHINGTON — Former Rep. Allan T. Howe, D-Utah, who was defeated after one U.S. House term amid charges that he solicited sex from two undercover police officers posing as prostitutes, died Thursday in Falls Church, Va., at the age of 73.
He died in the home of his son. Howe had suffered from heart disease.
Howe was elected to the House in 1974. In June 1976, while he was seeking re-election, he was arrested and charged with soliciting two undercover Salt Lake police officers.
National attention focused on the scandal, in part because it came at the same time that several other members of Congress were mired in morals scandals.
The Democratic Party chose not to take away its nomination from Howe as he fought the charges. But the party co-endorsed a write-in candidate. Meanwhile, Dan Marriott, R-Utah, won the race against the split Democratic ticket.
Howe was convicted of the misdemeanor charge of soliciting, and he appealed the decision, but it was upheld. Howe maintained that he was innocent.
After the scandal, Howe remained in Washington, D.C., and built a successful career as a respected lobbyist.
For the past 10 years, he worked for the National Park and Hospitality Association, a group that lobbies on behalf of concessionaires in national parks.
Before he was elected to the House, Howe was a field representative and administrative assistant to former Sen. Frank Moss, D-Utah, from 1959 to 1964.
From 1968 to 1972, he was the executive director of the Four Corners Regional Development Commission.
He was an assistant attorney general of Utah and administrative assistant to former Gov. Calvin L. Rampton. He was a past president of the Young Democratic Clubs of America.
Howe was a native of South Cottonwood. He was a graduate of the University of Utah and its law school. He served in the Coast Guard from 1946 to 1947.
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