Hickenlooper's Actions: Lawful Or Unlawful?

did hickenlooper break the law

In 2020, the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission found that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper, former governor of Colorado, had violated state ethics laws in 2018. Hickenlooper was fined $2,750 for twice breaking Colorado's gift ban amendment by accepting a flight on a private jet, a Maserati limousine ride, and several dinners from large corporations. The commission dismissed four other charges against him.

Characteristics Values
Name John Hickenlooper
Position Former Governor of Colorado
Year of violation 2018
Violation Amendment 41, the state's ban on gifts to public officials
Fined $2,750
Number of violations 2
Number of charges 6
Number of charges dropped 4

lawshun

John Hickenlooper violated ethics laws twice in 2018

John Hickenlooper, the former governor of Colorado and current junior United States senator from Colorado, was found to have violated state ethics laws twice in 2018. The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission determined that Hickenlooper violated Amendment 41, the state's ban on gifts to public officials, known as the gift ban.

The first violation occurred in March 2018 when Hickenlooper accepted a flight on a private jet from Denver to Groton, Connecticut, for the commissioning of the USS Colorado. The jet was owned by homebuilder and donor Larry Mizel, the founder of MDC Holdings. Hickenlooper also received two meals covered by MDC Holdings during this trip. The commission determined that the benefit he received by flying on the private jet would not have been offered to anyone besides himself.

The second violation took place in June 2018 when Hickenlooper attended the secretive Bilderberg Meetings in Turin, Italy. He paid a flat fee of $1,500, believing it covered the cost of a hotel stay, limousine transportation, meals, and more. However, the event's sponsor, Fiat-Chrysler, stated that the $1,500 fee did not include the limousine rides. The commission agreed unanimously that Hickenlooper violated the gift ban by accepting benefits that exceeded the allowed amount.

As a result of these violations, the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission fined Hickenlooper a total of $2,750. The fine included $2,200 for the private jet trip and $550 for the benefits received during the Italy trip, such as the limousine ride.

In addition to the ethics violations, Hickenlooper was also held in contempt for initially refusing to comply with a subpoena to testify before the commission. However, he eventually appeared and provided several hours of testimony.

These incidents sparked criticism and raised questions about Hickenlooper's conduct as a public official, with some calling for increased scrutiny and accountability.

lawshun

Hickenlooper fined $2,750 for ethics violations

The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission fined former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper $2,750 for ethics violations. The commission ruled on June 5, 2020, that Hickenlooper, a candidate for the June 30 Democratic U.S. Senate primary, violated the state's ethics law twice while governor in 2018.

The commission fined Hickenlooper $2,200 for his trip on a private jet owned by homebuilder and MDC Holdings founder Larry Mizel. Hickenlooper flew from Denver to Groton, Connecticut, for the commissioning of the USS Colorado. The commission determined that the benefit he received by flying on the plane would not have been offered to anyone besides Hickenlooper. The fine was double the estimated amount of the gift, which was valued at $1,100.

The commission also fined Hickenlooper $550 (twice the $275 estimate) for the benefit he received for a trip to the Bilderberg Meetings in Italy. These benefits included private security and a ride to the airport in a Maserati limousine.

"This amendment has never provided the commission with the ability to access robust financial penalties," Commissioner Bill Leone said. He added that the conservative group that brought the initial complaint, the Public Trust Institute, should have done more to ascertain the true value of the gifts Hickenlooper received.

Hickenlooper's campaign said he would personally pay the fine, which is a fraction of the $127,000 in attorney fees that Colorado taxpayers paid to defend him.

The commission also decided not to fine Hickenlooper for defying a subpoena to testify. Hickenlooper appeared the day after he was supposed to testify, and his attorney asked the commission to drop the contempt discussion. The commission denied the request but ultimately did not impose any additional financial penalty for his non-appearance.

lawshun

Hickenlooper's attorney argued a subpoena was a violation of his due process rights

John Hickenlooper, a former governor of Colorado and a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, was accused of violating ethics laws in 2018. The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission (IEC) considered six allegations against him, including accepting flights, lodging, and meals that were allegedly forbidden under the state's gift ban.

Hickenlooper's attorney, Mark Grueskin, argued that a subpoena compelling his client to testify was a violation of his due process rights. He cited technical glitches with the video conferencing program as one of the reasons. However, the commission disagreed and voted to enforce the subpoena.

Hickenlooper initially refused to comply with the subpoena, leading the commission to find him in contempt. He eventually testified the following day, and the hearing proceeded without technical difficulties.

The commission found Hickenlooper in violation of the gift ban in two instances: when he attended the Bilderberg Meetings in Italy and when he accepted a flight and exclusive dinners from MDC Holdings. In four other instances, he was cleared of violating Amendment 41, the state's ban on gifts to public officials.

The IEC's findings carry symbolic power and could potentially impact Hickenlooper's campaign for the U.S. Senate. The commission will meet to decide on penalties for the ethics violations and whether to sanction Hickenlooper for defying the subpoena.

lawshun

Hickenlooper's campaign dismisses 95 of 97 allegations as political smears

In June 2020, the Colorado Ethics Commission found that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and former governor John Hickenlooper had violated the state's ethics laws in 2018. The commission determined that Hickenlooper had violated Amendment 41, a gift ban limiting the value of gifts an elected representative can accept to $59, on two occasions. The first violation occurred when Hickenlooper flew on a private jet to Connecticut for the commissioning of the USS Colorado, and the second violation took place when he travelled to Turin, Italy, for a conference called The Bilderberg Meetings.

Hickenlooper's campaign spokeswoman, Melissa Miller, dismissed the majority of the allegations, stating that out of the 97 allegations pursued by Republicans, 95 were dismissed by the commission. She characterised the attacks as political smears and emphasised Hickenlooper's commitment to following guidelines during his travel endeavours, which she claimed resulted in positive economic outcomes for Colorado. Miller anticipated further negative attacks from special interest groups due to Hickenlooper's potential to become an independent voice in the U.S. Senate.

The commission's decision sparked varying responses. The National Republican Senatorial Committee criticised Hickenlooper for disregarding Colorado's ethics laws and violating the trust of taxpayers. In contrast, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee portrayed the ethics charges as a sign of weakness for Hickenlooper's opponent, Senator Cory Gardner. Hickenlooper's opponent in the Democratic primary, Andrew Romanoff, expressed disapproval of the Republicans' complaint while acknowledging the ethics commission's finding of a violation.

The Colorado Ethics Commission's ruling attracted attention due to the potential impact on Hickenlooper's Senate bid against incumbent Republican Senator Cory Gardner. The decision provided Republicans with ammunition to challenge Hickenlooper's image as a Washington outsider and his ability to relate to Coloradans. It also raised questions about his values, with critics highlighting the contrast between his luxurious travel experiences and the economic struggles faced by many residents in the state.

lawshun

Hickenlooper's primary opponent calls for him to drop out of the race

John Hickenlooper, the former governor of Colorado, has been found to have violated state ethics laws by accepting gifts from large corporations, including a private jet trip to Connecticut, a Maserati limousine ride, and several luxurious dinners in 2018. The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission determined that Hickenlooper's actions were in breach of Amendment 41, the state's ban on gifts to public officials. Hickenlooper's primary opponent, Andrew Romanoff, has seized on these violations to demand that the former governor drop out of the race for Colorado's U.S. Senate seat.

Romanoff's call for Hickenlooper to withdraw from the race comes just a week after the ethics commission's ruling and with the June 30 primary fast approaching. Ballots for the primary are set to be mailed out on Monday, giving Hickenlooper some breathing room as he tries to weather the storm of criticism from both sides of the aisle. The ethics violations have put Hickenlooper on the defensive, and he has downplayed the case as a smear campaign by Republicans.

Hickenlooper's campaign has pushed back against the allegations, arguing that the former governor followed guidelines in his travel arrangements and that the commission dismissed 95 out of 97 allegations, showing that the process has been exploited by special interests to mislead Coloradans with negative attacks. Hickenlooper's spokeswoman, Melissa Miller, stated that "Governor Hickenlooper accepts the Commission's findings and takes responsibility." Hickenlooper was fined $2,750 for the gifts he inappropriately accepted, which is twice the estimated cost of the private flight and limousine rides.

The ethics complaint against Hickenlooper was initially filed by a conservative group, the Public Trust Institute, led by former Republican House Speaker Frank McNulty in October 2018. The commission considered six allegations, clearing Hickenlooper of four of them due to exceptions to the gift ban for gifts from friends and on special occasions. However, the two violations related to the trip to Connecticut and the Bilderberg Meetings in Italy have provided ammunition for Romanoff's call for Hickenlooper to step aside.

Romanoff's statement reflects his stance on the matter: "When he said he wasn't 'cut out' to be a senator, we didn't know he'd try so hard to prove it." The pressure on Hickenlooper is intensified by the upcoming primary debate with Romanoff and the need to present a strong challenge to Republican Sen. Cory Gardner in the November ballot. With the ethics violations creating a challenging situation for Hickenlooper, it remains to be seen whether he will heed Romanoff's call to withdraw from the race or persist in his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat.

Antonio Brown: Lawbreaker or Innocent?

You may want to see also

Frequently asked questions

Yes, former Colorado governor and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Hickenlooper broke state law twice in 2018.

Hickenlooper violated Amendment 41, the state's ban on gifts to public officials, by accepting a private jet trip to Connecticut and a Maserati limousine ride in Italy.

Hickenlooper was fined $2,750 for the ethics violations. He also faced criticism from both sides of the political aisle and calls to drop out of the Senate race from his Democratic primary opponent, Andrew Romanoff.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment