State Sen. Kathleen Riebe of Cottonwood Heights says she will not resign after her fellow Senate Democrats voted to expel her from their caucus over alleged workplace discrimination and harassment.

"I am not resigning," Riebe said in a statement Wednesday, Nov. 4. "Fair process matters. Voters have entrusted me with public office four times, and I have important work ahead on behalf of my constituents."

As we reported Nov. 4, the five other Senate Democrats voted to remove Riebe from the caucus and called on her to resign. Their joint statement, issued less than an hour before polls closed on Election Night, cited findings from an independent investigation completed Nov. 2 into allegations of workplace discrimination and harassment.

Riebe said she was not given the investigator's report or written findings before the caucus made its public announcement, according to ABC4. She said no caucus member contacted her for a response.

"I take workplace concerns seriously," Riebe stated, according to ABC4. She said she disputes what she called "mischaracterizations" of her conduct and will not discuss confidential personnel matters or attempt to answer a report she has not been permitted to review.

She said she has requested a copy of the report and will use "appropriate internal processes" to address her status within the caucus.

Riebe points to staffing dispute

In an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, Riebe said she raised objections in September about a staffing situation. She said a person working on Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla's campaign to become Salt Lake City's mayor in 2027 was also trying to continue working for Senate Democrats.

Riebe told the Tribune she voiced concern to the staffer that they were being spread too thin and their quality of work was suffering. Days later, she said, the staffer filed a discrimination complaint with the Legislature's human resources department. Riebe said she believes the staffer was retaliating against her.

She told the Tribune she is "exploring an ethics complaint" against Escamilla over the staffer's dual role.

The Deseret News reported that Escamilla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Riebe's allegations. The caucus also did not immediately respond to a request for comment, the Tribune reported.

What the investigation found

According to an investigation summary obtained by the Tribune, it was "more likely than not" that Riebe engaged in a pattern of conduct toward others likely motivated by race, national origin or ethnicity. The summary also said she had made statements about employment decisions based on sexual orientation or other protected characteristics and had directed staff to place interns based on interns' sexual orientation.

The summary, signed by Senate President J. Stuart Adams, listed corrective actions: Riebe would not be assigned Senate staff or a legislative intern, would be moved to a new office and would be required to complete additional harassment training.

Riebe told the Tribune she does not believe the expulsion or those restrictions will prevent her from representing her constituents.

What comes next

Riebe represents Senate District 15, which covers Cottonwood Heights, Brighton, parts of Alta, parts of Midvale, parts of South Jordan and parts of Sandy. She is not up for reelection until 2028, and her current Senate term runs through Jan. 1, 2029, according to Utah News Dispatch.

The full investigative report has not been made public. Riebe said she has asked for a copy and has not received one.