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Tribune columnist Robert Kirby suspended after investigation into inappropriate behavior

The Salt Lake Tribune has suspended columnist Robert Kirby for three months without pay following an internal investigation after a Provo-based blogger detailed his inappropriate behavior toward her at a Mormon conference in July.

Courtney Kendrick posted Wednesday on social media of feeling “belittled and embarrassed” after Kirby, 65, made sexually-tinged comments and persuaded her to eat an edible dose of marijuana, then mocked her before a Sunstone Symposium audience by telling them Kendrick was “high.”

In a statement issued Friday, Tribune Editor Jennifer Napier-Pearce said that after looking into “multiple complaints,” managers found Kirby’s conduct violated Tribune policy and the newspaper had taken steps, the editor said, "to prevent this behavior in the future.