House GOP Member Secretly Records Senate Leader

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Senate Pro Tem Brent Hill says a Republican House member secretly recorded a private conversation before the May primary election.

The Post Register reports in a story on Wednesday that Rep. Ron Nate, of Rexburg, declined to disclose the audio recording after the eastern Idaho newspaper sent him a public records request.

Hill also declined to reveal the contents of the recording. In the weeks leading up to the May primary, Hill announced he would endorse Nate's opponent. The move raised eyebrows because legislative leadership tends to back incumbents.

Nate says that he will not turn over the recording because it would infringe on his privacy rights. Nate also cited a repealed section to the Idaho Public Records Act in his public records request denial. House Speaker Scott Bedke says covertly recording a fellow lawmaker damages the House's integrity.