Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and top state lawmakers ordered an independent investigation Friday into a state Supreme Court justice over allegations she had an unethical relationship with an attorney who worked on a high-stakes redistricting case.

Justice Diana Hagen, who was appointed by Cox, stands accused by her ex-husband of sending what he described as «inappropriate» text messages to an attorney who helped challenge a Republican-friendly map that maintained four red congressional seats in Utah. Hagen joined a unanimous decision to toss out Republicans’ redistricting plan in July 2024, a ruling that led to one of the seats flipping blue in time for the 2026 midterms.

The revelation of a possible relationship between Hagen and the attorney, David Reymann, who worked on behalf of progressive voting rights groups in the case, stemmed from a complaint that a lawyer for Hagen’s husband submitted to Chief Justice Matthew Durrant and the Judicial Conduct Commission, according to local outlet KSL.

Hagen and Reymann have both denied the allegations. Fox News Digital reached out to a Utah Supreme Court representative and Reymann for comment.

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The Judicial Conduct Commission, described on its website as an independent body comprising several state lawmakers, judges and members of the public, conducted a preliminary investigation based on the complaint and chose not to pursue the matter further, the outlet reported. Fox News Digital reached out to the Judicial Conduct Commission for comment.

The Utah Supreme Court issued a public statement on behalf of Hagen Friday afternoon in which she said she never had a conflict of interest.

Justice Diana Hagen in her official Utah Supreme Court headshot.  (Utah State Courts)

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«My last involvement in the redistricting case was October 2024,» Hagen said. «I voluntarily recused myself from all cases involving Mr. Reymann in May 2025, and my recusal was reflected in the Court’s September 15, 2025 opinion in League of Women Voters. I took prompt, prudent, and transparent steps in response to the allegations made by my ex-husband, including reporting them myself to the Judicial Conduct Commission and submitting a sworn statement. The Judicial Conduct Commission recently reviewed the matter, dismissed the complaint, and closed the case. I remain committed to upholding the highest standards of judicial ethics, integrity, and impartiality.»

The complaint and interviews conducted by the Judicial Conduct Commission found that Hagen and her husband began discussing divorce in September 2024, had interacted together with Reymann toward the end of that year and that Hagen did not meet one-on-one with Reymann until 2025, according to KSL.

Salt Lake City, Utah, The Scott M. Matheson Courthouse, which houses the Utah Supreme Court and various lower courts.  (Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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Cox, along with Senate President Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz, who joined the governor in launching the new investigation, said in a joint statement that more «transparency» was needed on the matter, signaling that the public’s trust in the state’s highest court was at stake, especially after a polarizing decision in a redistricting case set to affect the midterms.

«An initial review by the Judicial Conduct Commission and the court left important questions unresolved,» they said. «Allegations of this nature, especially involving public officials, must be examined with transparency and accountability to establish the facts and to maintain public confidence.»

El Papa León XIV visitó este viernes un hospital católico en Douala, Camerún. Foto: EFE

«Vivimos dentro de burbujas»

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Friday that the Trump administration is working with federal agencies and the FBI to review a growing number of cases involving American scientists who have gone missing or died and to determine whether any of the cases may be connected.

«In light of the recent and legitimate questions about these troubling cases, and President Trump’s commitment to the truth, the White House is actively working with all relevant agencies and the FBI to holistically review all of the cases together and identify any potential commonalities that may exist,» Leavitt said in a post on X.

«No stone will be unturned in this effort, and the White House will provide updates when we have them.»

Leavitt’s statement came after a Wednesday exchange with Fox News’ Peter Doocy, who asked whether federal authorities were investigating reports that scientists with access to sensitive U.S. research had gone missing or died.

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«There are now 10 American scientists who have either gone missing or died since mid-2024,» Doocy said. «They all reportedly had access to classified nuclear or aerospace material. Is anybody investigating this to see if these things are connected?»

Leavitt said at the time that she had seen the reports but had not yet spoken with the relevant agencies.

«I’ve seen the report, Peter. I haven’t spoken to our relevant agencies about it,» she said Wednesday. «I will certainly do that and we’ll get you an answer. If true, of course, that’s definitely something I think this government and administration would deem worth looking into.»

Jason Thomas, left, Melissa Casias, center, and Frank Maiwald are among scientists whose deaths or disappearances have drawn scrutiny as officials review whether any cases are connected. (Fox News: Sierra Casias: Legacy.com)

The number of cases has since grown, with an 11th scientist now included among the deaths and disappearances involving people tied to U.S. military, nuclear and aerospace research.

Amy Eskridge, a Huntsville, Alabama-based researcher who died in 2022 at age 34, is now being included in the list, Fox News Digital has reported.

Her death has drawn renewed attention as at least 10 other recent cases involving people tied to advanced research fields have raised questions about whether there may be a pattern.

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President Donald Trump said Thursday he had «just left a meeting» on the issue and vowed answers within days, calling the situation «pretty serious.»

«I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half,» Trump said.

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration said it is aware of the reports and is looking into the matter.

An exhibit of the F-1 engine used in the space shuttle at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. (Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images)

«NNSA is aware of reports related to employees of our labs, plants, and sites and is looking into the matter,» the agency said in a statement.

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Officials have not confirmed any connection between the cases. But the timing of the deaths and disappearances, along with the individuals’ ties to advanced research fields, has drawn public attention and speculation.

There is no publicly available evidence linking Eskridge’s death to the other cases, and authorities have not indicated any tie between her work and the circumstances of her death.