Lawmaker asked to refund hotel tied to prostitute report

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah’s House of Representatives will ask a former lawmaker to refund the costs of two hotel rooms he’s alleged to have used to meet up with a prostitute last year.

House Chief of Staff Greg Hartley said in a statement Thursday that former Republican Rep. Jon Stanard will be asked to repay about $225 for hotel rooms in Salt Lake City in June and August 2017.

Records of Stanard’s receipts released in February showed taxpayer funds were used to pay for hotel rooms that corresponded with a report in the DailyMail.com alleging Stanard twice hired a prostitute in 2017.

The dates, hotel names and a room number on the receipts matched text messages reported by the DailyMail.com.

A message seeking comment from Stanard’s lawyer Walter Bugden was not returned.