U.S. Rep. John Curtis, left, reacts to a statement made by Trent Staggs, right, following the Utah Senate primary debate for Republican contenders battling to win the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney Monday, June 10, 2024, in Salt Lake City.Utah’s 2024 U.S. Senate Republican primary election debate was mostly a ho-hum affair. That is until the final seconds of the hourlong debate when Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs insinuated that Rep.
Following Staggs’ statement, the moderator, former television anchor and political correspondent Glen Mills, attempted to end the broadcast, but Curtis intervened. U.S. Rep. John Curtis speaks during the Utah Senate primary debate for Republican contenders battling to win the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, Monday, June 10, 2024, in Salt Lake City.“I wasn’t accusing him of a felony. What I said is on the same day the company was given a grant, he traded stock. I think that’s a problem. I think it’s problematic that members of Congress are allowed to do this,” Staggs told reporters. “People make millions of dollars every year trading stock.
“You’ve got to ask yourself the question whether or not by accepting all of that outside money if it’s going to bring undue influence,” Staggs added. Without proof, Moxie Pest Control CEO Jason Walton parroted the claim that Democratic President Joe Biden was somehow directing Trump’s prosecution for political advantage.