SouthernWorldwide.com – The White House is closely observing an alleged scandal in Utah, urging Republican lawmakers in the state to investigate ethical concerns surrounding a relationship between two individuals involved in a significant redistricting case. This development adds another layer to the ongoing dispute over Utah’s court-mandated congressional map, which altered a Republican-dominated district to favor Democrats. It also represents a new strategy in the Trump administration’s efforts to preserve the Republican Party’s narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
State legislators are raising questions about a potential conflict of interest involving Utah Supreme Court Justice Diana Hagen and David Reymann. Reymann is an attorney with Parr Brown, a firm that represented the League of Women Voters of Utah. This organization was among the plaintiffs who argued that the proposed congressional maps by Republican lawmakers were unlawful.
Justice Hagen authored the unanimous 2024 ruling that determined Republican legislators had exceeded their authority by altering Proposition 4, a measure designed to prevent gerrymandering. The ruling found that the lawmakers had indeed engaged in gerrymandering.
It remains uncertain whether the alleged conflict of interest involving Hagen and Reymann could lead to the overturning of the new congressional boundaries, potentially restoring a Republican-majority district. “There are many unknowns at this point,” Kirk Cullimore, the majority leader in the Utah Senate, stated to CBS News.
Cullimore pointed out that Justice Hagen had recused herself from considering any matters related to Reymann. Ethics advocates are currently trying to determine if the two were involved in a relationship when the state Supreme Court issued its decision on the anti-gerrymandering case. Republican officials in Utah have reportedly discussed the situation with the White House, according to sources.
Other state legislatures have been embroiled in redistricting conflicts following President Trump’s initiation of a mid-decade redistricting effort. He had urged Texas Republicans to redraw their congressional boundaries in an attempt to solidify a Republican majority in the House.
President Trump himself commented earlier this year on the efforts by Utah Republicans to repeal the anti-gerrymandering bill. The current congressional map in Utah, established by a district court order, transformed four districts that previously leaned Republican into three GOP-leaning districts and one district with a Democratic majority in the Salt Lake City area. Republicans had held all four of Utah’s congressional districts since 2014.
Read more: Judge releases suspect's suicide note
Utah U.S. Representative Burgess Owens, a former professional football player, announced last month that he would not seek reelection. This announcement followed his unsuccessful lawsuit to challenge the congressional map. In a joint statement provided to CBS News, the top three Republican legislative leaders in Utah confirmed their intention to proceed with an independent investigation into the matter.
“Recent media reports concerning a relationship between a member of the Utah Supreme Court and an attorney who has presented high-profile cases before the Court raise significant questions and concerns,” stated Governor Spencer Cox, State Senate President J. Stuart Adams, and House Speaker Mike Schultz. They added, “An initial review conducted by the Judicial Conduct Commission and the Court left crucial questions unresolved. Allegations of this nature, particularly when involving public officials, must be thoroughly examined with transparency and accountability to establish the facts and preserve public trust.”
The League of Women Voters Utah, which Reymann represented, has declined to comment on the situation. A complaint filed with the state’s Judicial Conduct Commission in December brought forth allegations of an inappropriate relationship between Justice Hagen and attorney Reymann. Through a public records request, CBS News obtained a copy of this complaint. It was reportedly filed by an attorney who stated that Hagen’s ex-husband had informed him about text messages exchanged between Hagen and Reymann.
Following a preliminary investigation, the Judicial Conduct Commission decided not to pursue the matter further. After the state Supreme Court’s 2024 decision, the Republican-controlled legislature attempted to have the new map invalidated. The case returned to the state’s high court in September 2025, and in February of this year, Utah’s high court once again ruled against the legislature, upholding the new map.
In a declaration submitted to the commission in January, Justice Hagen detailed her relationship with Reymann. She stated that she had remained faithful to her ex-husband throughout their 30-year marriage and denied having an affair before their separation. She indicated that she initiated divorce proceedings in September 2024, and the couple separated in April 2025.
The judge further stated that she resumed her “friendship with Mr. Reymann” while separated from her husband and updated her recusal list to include his name. Hagen informed local news outlet KSL-TV, which initially reported on the situation, that she “voluntarily recused myself from all cases involving Mr. Reymann in May 2025.” David Reymann has not responded to CBS News’ requests for comment.
