The Republican-controlled Utah Senate fired a legislative staffer assigned to the chamber’s six Democrats this week. No reason was given, the now-former staffer said, but it appears the Tuesday evening dismissal was related to an incident during floor debate on a GOP-backed bill that banned gender-affirming health care for transgender minors.
Just days after the start of the 2023 Legislature, senators approved Senate Bill 16, which bans most minors in Utah from receiving gender-affirming health care. During the final Senate vote on the bill, Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, read aloud from a letter from his intern Ari Webb, who is transgender.
“Even before SB16 has passed the Senate, this bill has negatively impacted my health and well-being and is causing adverse effects on Utah’s trans community,” Blouin read.
“I will have to face each of you on this floor after this vote, and each of you will have to face me and many other transgender people after today, whether you know it or not,” the senator said, reading Webb’s words.
To the side of the Senate floor, away from the public and out of view of the cameras that record and live stream the proceedings, a small group of interns stood silently to show their support for Webb. Democratic staffer Bennett Johnson joined them.
Two and a half weeks later, he was fired.
Johnson confirmed to The Salt Lake Tribune that he was dismissed by Senate Chief of Staff Mark Thomas and a human resources representative on Tuesday, adding the reasons he was let go were not made clear to him.
Johnson says the off-floor demonstration by the interns was not a protest, and he had no part in its organization.
“It is not true in any way, shape or form that I organized, contributed towards or participated in any type of protest. I was approached by an intern who expressed a desire to have a small group stand in support of a fellow intern who was having a statement read in on the floor,” Johnson said in a text message.
“Following this request, I directed them to an area which is common for interns to stand and observe just outside the chamber and stood with them. I was not told there would be a protest, and no protest or any disrespectful behavior took place,” Johnson continued.
It is not clear if that silent show of support for a colleague somehow violated the Senate rules of decorum. The only guidelines are that the president or presiding officer is responsible for “maintaining order and decorum” and has the authority to clear the Senate or gallery if there is a disturbance. Video recordings show Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, was presiding over the Senate that day and made no indication of any disruption or breach of decorum.
Thomas refused to comment on why Johnson was fired when contacted by The Tribune. Johnson was employed by the Senate Democrats in various positions starting in 2020.
“The Utah Legislature is an at-will employer, and employees can be terminated with or without cause. To respect the individual’s privacy, we are not commenting further on personnel matters at this time,” Thomas said in an email Wednesday evening.
[Get the latest Utah political news in the new Daily Buzz email newsletter. Sign up here.]
Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, declined to comment on Bennett’s dismissal. Multiple Senate sources who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation said the firing caught the minority Democrats by surprise.
Senate leaders refused to comment about Johnson’s dismissal during their daily media availability on Thursday.
“I really appreciate that question, but we’re not going to talk about those type of HR issues,” Adams said.
In response to a follow-up question on its policies regarding employees’ political participation, Adams said the Senate’s staffers are “nonpartisan.”
“I’m sure it’s open and public what our policies are, so we’ll get you those,” he added.
In an email sent by a spokesperson Thursday afternoon, Thomas did not provide a copy of those policies, and reemphasized that “employees of the Legislature are at will and may be terminated with or without cause,” per Utah Code.
“Personnel decisions are taken seriously and never made lightly,” Thomas said. “Unfortunately, there is inaccurate information circulating. However, we are not commenting further on the details of personnel matters.”
Johnson’s dismissal leaves the six Senate Democrats with one dedicated staffer for the remaining three weeks of the 2023 session. On the state’s transparency website, Johnson is listed as a “Senate Minority Communications Specialist.”
Three paid legislative assistants are shared among 22 of 23 Republican senators, while a fourth is assigned exclusively to Adams. Two other staffers handle communications for the Senate.
Gov. Spencer Cox signed and enacted the ban late last month.
Reporter Emily Anderson Stern contributed to this story.
Correction • This story has corrected the number of Republican senators and staffers.
