Governor campaign head resigns after sexual misconduct probe

Governor Cox at the Cedar City Rotary meeting in May. Photo: Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox

SALT LAKE CITY — The former campaign manager for Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has resigned after an investigation substantiated claims of sexual misconduct made against him by a female campaign employee, Cox said Thursday.

The Republican governor said an independent investigation that concluded this week found cause to terminate Austin Cox, his 2020 campaign manager, but he resigned prior to its completion. The investigation also revealed previously unreported “hostile conduct” towards other members of the team.

The governor said that he and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson condemn Austin Cox’s behavior and will “do everything possible to make sure this never happens again.”

“I was devastated to learn of this violation of trust and deeply saddened by the pain it has caused,” Cox said in a statement. “I take full responsibility for the failure of the campaign’s policies and procedures to prevent this from happening.”

We were devastated to learn of this abuse of trust and condemn this kind of behavior in the strongest terms. pic.twitter.com/VhO0EDL88R

— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) October 7, 2021

FOX13 reported on Friday that attorneys representing Austin Cox disputed the allegations, saying the situation involved “a long-term relationship between two young single adults.”

“We are deeply disappointed in the joint press release issued yesterday via Twitter by Governor Spencer Cox and Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson. Twitter is a powerful forum for advancing political narratives, but it is not the truth,” said a statement by Paul C. Burke and Skye Lazaro.

The attorneys said they are “confident that any truly fair and impartial investigation would fully vindicate our client from baseless allegations.”

The governor and former campaign manager are not related.