A British newspaper reported Thursday that Rep. Jon Stanard, R-St. George, resigned abruptly Tuesday after he met a Salt Lake City call girl twice for sex, and it released racy texts that it says he sent to her.

The Daily Mail of London said call girl Brie Taylor claims Stanard paid her for sex during two business trips to Salt Lake City in 2017. Taylor claims he paid her $250 for each of the one-hour sessions in June and August — on dates when the Legislature held interim meetings.

Stanard is married and voted for stricter laws against pornography. He also said on his website — which has since been deleted — “I am a strong advocate for conservative family values. I am pro life, as well as for traditional marriage.”

Taylor claims Stanard first approached her on March 7, 2017 — near the end of last year’s general session of the Legislature.

He allegedly wrote: ‘Looking at your website. Can you meet?’

In a second text he added: ‘Would need to be tonight. Only in town a little. Anytime. Can do in or out. At hotel in downtown SL.’

They exchanged a string of messages but Taylor was unavailable because her 10-year-old son was sick.

He messaged her again the following month but she was again unavailable, and they met for the first time at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Hotel in Downtown Salt Lake City on June 20.

Taylor said: “I already knew who he was because I screen all my clients using a phone number service and I Googled him.

“He opened the door and he was very nice. He was a gentleman.

“We chatted just briefly and then I got changed out of what I was wearing into lingerie.

“Then the adult stuff started to happen.”

She said she had researched who he was online, and they talked about his work as a representative.

“He said he comes up to Salt Lake a lot and he would like to see me again. He said he never does this sort of stuff in St. George because it is really culturally strict down there.”

The newspaper said the escort of three years, who has appeared in porn films, says Stanard returned on a business trip that summer and they met at the same hotel on August 22.

“He doesn’t drink so we didn’t do anything like that but during that session they were trying to pass medical marijuana so we talked about that,” she said.

Stanard resigned Tuesday evening, and his resignation was announced to the House on Wednesday after a closed-door House Republican caucus — but no explanations were given.

Stanard on Wednesday said in a text to the Associated Press that he hoped to spend more time with his father, who is suffering from cancer.

The Daily Mail said that Stanard’s attorney, Walter Bugden, told it, “Given the current climate in this country with misconduct allegations and the way things are happening in the media right now, there isn’t any explanation that my client could give that would overcome the shadow of these allegations.”

Stanard did not immediately respond to a text sent by The Salt Lake Tribune on Thursday seeking comment.

Taylor said via text message the story was “exclusive” with a reporter working for a news wire, referred all questions to the reporter, Shanti Das, and didn’t respond to further questions.

Das said The Tribune could buy the story, photos and texts, but declined to say whether Taylor was paid for the information.

“That really isn’t relevant,” Das said. “We’re sending out the story on her behalf.”

Of note, Taylor on Wednesday did respond to a Tweet by a Fox 13 news reporter about Stanard’s resignation. She posted an emoji with a tongue stuck out showing disgust. It has since been removed.

Greg Hartley, chief of staff for the Utah House, said legislative leaders plan no comment on Stanard’s situation. House Speaker Greg Hughes on Wednesday announced the resignation in a brief statement that listed no reasons for Standard’s departure, and said he would respect Stanard’s request for privacy.

Hughes was caught briefly by reporters on Thursday. When he was asked if he knew about the allegations about the call girl before the resignation, he said he had nothing further to add, and noted that Standard is no longer a House member.

Not long afterward, security officers said the speaker had ordered them to remove reporters from the House chamber and a nearby hallway where they are normally allowed access to talk to members.

Hartley later called that a misunderstanding, and said reporters’ access has been restored.

Before reporters were asked to leave, House Majority Whip Frances Gibson, R-Mapleton, said he had no response other than to express love for Stanard’s family, and said he cares for him. Most members declined comment, other than to express surprise or sadness for Stanard and his family.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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