Colorado
GOP lawmaker calls for probe over Lebsock’s chairmanship, slams top Colorado Democrat
DENVER – Amid calls for her resignation and harsh words from a Republican lawmaker, Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran said Tuesday she wouldn’t have appointed Rep. Steve Lebsock to the chairmanship of a House panel had she known there were more sexual harassment allegations against him, but stood by the way she handled the situation.
Duran, a Denver Democrat, appointed Lebsock, D-Thornton, to be the chair of the House Local Government Committee in 2016 after Rep. Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and other House Democrats told her about Lebsock’s alleged advancements. Continue reading
NRSC chair Cory Gardner says Senate should expel Roy Moore if he wins election, doesn’t drop out
DENVER – U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Monday he believes the women who have alleged that Alabama candidate for senator Roy Moore made sexual advances on them decades ago, and said the Senate should vote to expel him from the seat should he win next month’s special election.
“I believe the individuals speaking out against Roy Moore spoke with courage and truth, proving he is unfit to serve in the United States Senate and he should not run for office,” Gardner, a Republican from Colorado, said in a prepared statement released by the NRSC. Continue reading
Rep. Winter to file formal complaint against Rep. Lebsock as leaders plan harassment policy changes
DENVER – Colorado state Rep. Faith Winter says she plans to file a formal complaint against Rep. Steve Lebsock Monday afternoon, as leadership from both parties say they have new plans to prevent sexual harassment at the state Capitol.
Winter, D-Westminster, told Denver7 Monday the formal filing comes on the heels of Lebsock’s weekend statement asking that she and two other women who have accused him of sexual advancements and harassment file the formal complaints. Continue reading
Democratic colleagues call for Rep. Steve Lebsock’s resignation after sexual harassment allegations
DENVER – A female Colorado state lawmaker is going public with allegations that fellow lawmaker Rep. Steve Lebsock made sexual advances toward her last year, and she says there are several others who have made similar claims.
Rep. Faith Winter, D-Westminster, told Denver7 Investigates Friday the incident in question happened toward the end of last year’s legislative session, in May 2016. Lebsock, D-Thornton, is now running for state treasurer in 2018. Continue reading
Exclusive: Inside Colorado’s bid for Amazon HQ2
DENVER – Colorado’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters touted the pipeline of talented students at the state’s universities and the quality of life here in its attempt to lure the company, but documents show there are concerns over low unemployment rates, infrastructure and high costs of living—which could rise even further should the company decide to come to the Centennial State.
A response to a joint open records request made by Denver7 and The Denver Post reveals some of the details of Colorado’s bid, which could bring up to 50,000 new jobs and billions of dollars to the state should Amazon decide to build its so-called HQ2 here. Continue reading
NRSC chair Cory Gardner says GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore should drop out if sex allegations true
DENVER – Sen. Cory Gardner, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Wednesday that Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat, should drop out of the special election if the allegations he had a sexual relationship with a teen girl are true.
The Washington Post broke the story Wednesday that in 1979, Moore—then a 32-year-old district attorney—had a sexual encounter with a girl who was 14 years old at the time. Continue reading
DA has active investigation into sexual harassment allegations at Lake County Sheriff’s Office
LAKE COUNTY, Colo. – The Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s Office confirmed Wednesday it has an ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual harassment levied against the Lake County undersheriff by at least three female employees of the sheriff’s office.
The confirmation came shortly after the Lake County Board of County Commissioners held a meeting with Sheriff Rodney Fenske and at least one attorney. The meeting was held in executive session, with windows blocked out with paper and reporters not allowed inside. Continue reading
Montrose man says his father had a sex change and he killed him, but victim was a different woman
OLATHE, Colo. – A Montrose man walked into the Olathe Police Department Sunday night and told officers his father had a sex change and that he’d killed him. But the person he’s accused of killing was actually a woman, and the man’s father is alive and well.
Police say they believe Joseph Anthony Saur, 19, was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time.
According to an affidavit for Saur’s arrest, he was “visibly emotional and distraught” when he walked into the police station Sunday night just before midnight and told officer he shot his father a few blocks west of the station.
But his story had holes immediately, according to the affidavit. Continue reading
George Brauchler says he’s considering shift to run for Colorado attorney general
DENVER – George Brauchler, the 18th Judicial District Attorney who is currently running for governor, might shift and run for the Colorado attorney general’s seat next year, he told Denver7 Wednesday after current AG Cynthia Coffman jumped into the governor’s race.
Brauchler said he was talking with advisers and others who have previously discussed running for the seat should Coffman decide to run for governor, but had yet to make a final decision. Continue reading
Cynthia Coffman says she won’t participate in mud-slinging in Republican primary for governor
DENVER – Cynthia Coffman says she won’t participate in any mud-slinging in what is expected to be a hotly-contested Republican primary for Colorado’s governorship in 2018, despite suggestions from at least one of her opponents that it would be an “ugly race.”
“I don’t plan to participate in it if it happens. I don’t think it’s necessary, and I don’t think it’s what voters want to see candidates engage in,” Coffman told Denver7 Wednesday after announcing her candidacy. Continue reading