House Republicans met for more than 2 ½ hours Wednesday night behind closed doors at the Utah Capitol to discuss the handling of Majority Leader Kevin Garn's revelation last week that he had hot-tubbed nude with a minor years ago.

After the meeting, most of the representatives left through a private exit. The caucus issued a statement stating that it believed Garn's decision Saturday to resign his seat was appropriate.

"While not condoning the action, we wish for closure and healing for Cheryl Maher [the woman involved] and the Garn family. We hope the people of Utah understand that members of the Legislature do not condone any illegal, unethical or ill-advised behavior," the statement said.

Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, said the meeting was a frank discussion of what transpired. Rep. Brad Last, R-St. George, would not comment on what was discussed.

Garn's confession on the last night of the legislative session was met with a statement of support from House Speaker David Clark, R-Santa Clara, and a standing ovation and a rush by House members to embrace Garn -- a show that disgusted some observers.

Few in the body knew Garn's admission was coming, although Clark had learned of it four days earlier, after Maher, who was 15 years old at the time of the 1985 incident, revealed the incident in an e-mail to a few Democratic representatives, who turned over the matter to Clark.

Clark issued a statement Saturday seeking to clarify that the Thursday night display on the House floor was not meant to condone Garn's misdeeds.

"A standing ovation is a standard custom of the House and was a natural conclusion to Representative Garn's difficult and emotional statement," Clark said. "I hope the people of Utah understand that our support of Representative Garn and his family does not in any way signal support for illegal, unethical or ill-advised action by any member of the House."

In hindsight, Clark said, another venue may have been more appropriate for the announcement. He did not return a phone message left Wednesday night.

"[Garn] was admitting to some really inappropriate behavior and is that worthy of a standing ovation?" asked Heather Stringfellow, a former sex-crimes detective with the Salt Lake City Police Department who is now director of the Rape Crisis Center. "I have to disagree with that."

Rep. Julie Fisher, R-Fruit Heights, said legislators have been swamped with angry e-mail from constituents, but legislators were not applauding Garn's actions. Instead they were showing support and appreciation for a colleague. Few in the House, she said, had any idea what was coming Thursday before the announcement.

"We had a situation ... where Republicans and Democrats didn't know all the details of the story and when all the details were out it was a different story," she said. "If you get that kind of information in a minute-and-a-half, how are you going to process it so suddenly?"

Editorials in the Daily Herald in Provo and Standard-Examiner in Ogden excoriated the behavior and conservative blogger Holly Richardson called for Clark to resign because, in her view, he had so badly mishandled the situation.

Aware that The Salt Lake Tribun e planned to run a story on his hot-tubbing incident, Garn read a statement from the floor acknowledging the impropriety and admitting that he paid $150,000 to conceal the matter as visibly stunned colleagues looked on.

"At this point, I would rather be open and honest about this than continue to live in fear," Garn said. "I apologize to you, my colleagues, for any shame this brings to the Utah State Legislature."

In his statement, Garn did not mention they were nude in the hot tub or that the girl was 15 at the time, although he did say she was "nearly half my age." Garn was 30 years old and married when the incident occurred.

At the end of his statement, Clark praised his colleague and said that "I know not of the man you speak of."

"I know the man I consider a friend, a leader and an asset to the state of Utah, and I would ask our fellow colleagues that our hearts might be open," Clark said. "We hope you would remain with us."

Lawmakers stood and applauded, many leaping to their feet, and lined up to embrace and console Garn and his wife and family, who were with him. There were hoots and shouts of support from observers in the gallery.

"I think it sends a mixed message," Gov. Gary Herbert said Wednesday.

Herbert was in the House chamber Thursday before Garn spoke, and consoled him before the confession.

"I told him I appreciated his great service and wished him well and his family, which is what any human being would do in that circumstance," the governor said.