Utah Democrat Karen Shepherd is considering a bid to
retake the congressional seat she lost to free-spending Republican
Enid Waldholtz.
Authorities continue to
investigate allegations Joe and Enid Waldholtz are at the center of
a $1.7 million check-kiting scheme which may include violations of
federal campaign-spending laws in the 1994 race against
Shepherd.
Waldholtz, a darling of House Speaker
Newt Gingrich, spent $1.8 million in personal funds to beat
Shepherd, who in one term had built a record of support for
environmental causes. FBI agents now question the source of those
funds, putting the entire election – and Waldholtz’s political
future – in doubt.
Waldholtz claims she knew
nothing of any financial improprieties and blames her husband
entirely. Polls show a majority of Utahns don’t accept her
explanation.
Joe gave himself up to the FBI six
days after vanishing from Washington’s National Airport Nov. 11. He
now awaits a date to testify before a federal grand jury, though
his attorneys say he is negotiating with federal prosecutors on a
plea bargain that could include testifying against his wife. – Tony
Semerad
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Saga of Enid Waldholtz.
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