Taxpayers spent $150,000 to defend former Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper’s against an ethics complaint that led to two violations of the state’s gift ban, records show. The final cost of the legal expenses matches the maximum allowed in a contract with Mark Grueskin. The prominent Democratic election attorney represented Hickenlooper on behalf of the state […]
Mark Grueskin
Posted inPolitics and Government
How John Hickenlooper being held in contempt by Colorado’s ethics commission only makes his troubles worse
The political ramifications of the ethics complaint against John Hickenlooper, the national Democratic favorite to help retake control of the U.S. Senate, just went from bad to worse. The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission on Thursday voted unanimously to hold the former governor in contempt after he defied a subpoena to testify at a hearing about […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
John Hickenlooper defies subpoena in ethics complaint despite judge’s orders to testify
John Hickenlooper, the former governor and a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, must testify Thursday at a hearing about whether his travel on private planes amounts to a violation of the state’s gift ban. Denver District Court Judge Christopher Baumann issued a ruling late Wednesday that declined Hickenlooper’s request to block a subpoena and delay […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
John Hickenlooper refuses to testify virtually, seeks to delay hearing on ethics complaint
John Hickenlooper is now refusing to testify on an ethics complaint against him and is threatening to file a lawsuit to block a hearing on his case. In a legal filing Friday, an attorney for Hickenlooper said the former governor would not participate in the June 4 hearing before the Colorado Ethics Commission because the […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
Hickenlooper faces renewed pressure and questions about his administration’s spending in final months
A little-noticed government account that is paying ongoing legal bills related to an ethics complaint against U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper is facing renewed scrutiny even as the Democrat’s allies continue to block requests for an audit of the spending. In its final months, the former governor’s administration used federal funds from a 2003 account […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
The effort to recall Colorado’s governor is facing a campaign finance complaint over its “Polis Penny” strategy
A fundraising technique used by two committees gathering signatures to recall Colorado’s Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is the subject of a campaign finance complaint to the Secretary of State’s office. The Colorado Sun first reported the use of the “Polis Penny” by signature gatherers last month. Groups gathering signatures are setting out jars to collect […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Will two redistricting ballot measures this year put an end to one of Colorado’s longest-running political feuds?
Almost three years ago, former state lawmaker Rob Witwer invited a few other “legislative has-beens” to meet him for lunch on the 16th Street Mall. Witwer, ever the optimist, kicked around his ideas for fixing one of the longest-running, most-divisive battles in politics: the fight over political power itself. The downtown lawyer and father of […]