Sen. Kathleen Riebe refuses to resign, weighs ethics complaint against Luz Escamilla

Sen. Kathleen Riebe, D-Cottonwood Heights, said Wednesday she will not resign, a day after the five other Democrats in the Utah Senate removed her from their caucus and called for her to step down. "I am not resigning," she said in a statement. ^[1][2][3]

The Senate Minority Caucus said Tuesday that an independent investigation, released Nov. 2 in response to a workplace complaint, found a pattern of conduct toward others that was likely motivated by race, national origin or ethnicity, along with statements about employment decisions based on sexual orientation or other protected characteristics. ^[4]

Riebe said the report has not been shared with her and that she was not given a chance to respond before the caucus acted. She said she disputes material characterizations of her conduct that have been relayed to her, but she declined to discuss confidential personnel matters or a report she has not been allowed to review. She said she has asked for a copy. ^[1][2][3]

She told the Tribune she met with Senate President J. Stuart Adams, who summarized the findings. A summary signed by Adams, obtained by the Tribune, lists corrective actions: no assigned Senate staff or legislative intern, a new office away from Senate staff and more harassment training. ^[1]

Riebe said the complaint followed concerns she raised in September that a Senate staffer was also working on Minority Leader Luz Escamilla's 2027 campaign for Salt Lake City mayor. She said she told the staffer they were spread too thin and later said she planned to run for Escamilla's leadership post; days later, she said, the staffer filed a discrimination complaint, which she believes was retaliation. ^[1][3]

Riebe told the Tribune she is exploring an ethics complaint against Escamilla over having her campaign manager in a taxpayer-funded position. Escamilla did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the caucus did not respond to the Tribune. ^[1][3]

Riebe said she will use internal processes to address her standing in the caucus and will keep representing her constituents. She is not up for reelection until 2028. ^[1][3]