1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am deeply concerned about the recent actions of House Speaker Mike Schultz, who has been accused of misusing taxpayer money to target Judge Dianna Gibson over her ruling in a gerrymandering case. This behavior is unacceptable and represents a clear abuse of power that undermines the integrity of our democratic institutions. Speaker Schultz posted a video criticizing Judge Gibson for her decision on Utah's congressional maps, labeling it "judicial activism." This video appears to be part of a taxpayer-funded PR operation run through Schultz's personal social media accounts. Such use of public funds for personal political messaging is not only ethically questionable but potentially illegal. The facts of this case are deeply troubling. Judge Gibson ruled that Utah lawmakers unconstitutionally repealed Proposition 4, an anti-gerrymandering ballot initiative, and declared the 2021 congressional map illegal. Instead of respecting the judicial process, Speaker Schultz has chosen to attack the judge personally, accusing "national liberal organizations" of being behind the lawsuit to help Democrats win a congressional seat. Furthermore, the video production has been linked to Northbound Strategy, a firm that has received significant funding from state agencies. This raises serious questions about the appropriate use of taxpayer resources and the potential conflicts of interest involved. I urge you to take immediate action to address this situation. We need a thorough investigation into the use of public funds for these videos and any other potential misuses of taxpayer money for personal political gain. Additionally, I call for the implementation of stricter oversight measures to prevent such abuses in the future. As a constituent, I expect our elected officials to uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and to respect the separation of powers. Speaker Schultz's actions undermine public trust and the foundations of our democratic system. It is crucial that you take a stand against this behavior and work to restore integrity to our state's political processes. I look forward to hearing about the steps you will take to address this issue and ensure accountability in our state government.