Mel Brown (R-Coalville, UT)
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Claims to fame: Utah state legislator; former Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives; former LDS Stake President; dairy farmer; father of four; adulterer; divorcé
Moral apex: In 1998, blew a 42-year marriage (which produced four children) on an affair with an intern, one Jill Kitchen, 27 years his junior.
Anything else? Just something about accepting an undisclosed $230 check from a lobbyist for U.S. West, who said he was helping Brown get a cell phone; in truth, they were discussing Brown’s “career options” with the company. It is interesting that after Brown’s political career was sidelined for a while, he became a lobbyist himself.
The consequences: Other than an expensive divorce? Politically, not much. The business about the cell-phone check was investigated by the House, and Brown was cleared.
But for his extramarital affair, he was excommunicated from the Mormon Church.
Where he is now: Although he gave up a re-election bid after the scandal broke, he’s been back in the Utah state legislature since 2006 (albeit from a different district). Oh, and he married the legislative aide he was shagging on the side.
Suggested Book of Mormon reading for Mr. Brown:
In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this border of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.
— D&C 131:1-4
