Colorado House could expel first legislator in 103 years on Friday

The Colorado House is poised to do something Friday that hasn’t been done since Woodrow Wilson was president and the movie of the year was “Birth of a Nation.” Rep. Steve Lebsock of Thornton could be the first lawmaker to get kicked out since 1915.
And it’s his fellow Democrats who are pushing for his ouster, while Republicans who are cautioning against a hasty decision.
For expulsion, Democrats will have to muster two-thirds of the votes, and with the GOP solidly concerned about Democrats’ handling of due process, it will be a close call. Two-thirds of the 65 members is 43, and Democrats have 38 members.
Lebsock is one of five current lawmakers who have been accused of sexual harassment, and he could become the second state legislator nationwide who has lost his office in the way of the #MeToo movement. He would join Republican Rep. Don Shooter of Arizona.
Lebsock maintains his innocence, saying his five accusers are lying about 11 reported incidents. He claims his party is scheming against him to help Rep. Faith Winter, D-Thornton, win a Senate district over Republican Sen. Beth Martinez Humenik – a seat that could give Democrats a majority in the upper chamber and the ability to pass legislation, especially if the party also retains the governor’s office.
Lebsock already had announced plans to run for state treasurer, the same office being sought by fellow Democratic Rep. Dave Young of Greeley.
Senate Republicans on Thursday called on Denver District Attorney Beth McCann, a former Democratic House members, to investigate any claims against lawmakers that could amount to sexual assault.
House Republicans sought to hold hearings to questions accusers and witnesses, rather than rely on an outside investigator – who determined only who was more likely than not to be telling the truth.
Democrats provided a heavily redacted copy of the complaint against Lebsock to House members this week, but Thursday some members said it wasn’t enough evidence on which to base the decision. Republicans said they needed more time and more information.
Democrats resisted.
“I don’t think we should go even into next week when we know what is right,” said Rep. Jovan Melton, D-Aurora.
Added fellow Democratic Rep. Susan Lontine of Denver, “Justice delayed is justice denied. The longer we wait, the longer justice is denied for these women.”
Lontine filed a sexual harassment complaint against Republican Sen. Larry Crowder of Alamosa last month, the latest of five that have roiled the statehouse.
Besides Lebsock and Crowder, others accused are Republican Sens. Randy Baumgardner of Hot Sulphur Springs and Jack Tate of Centennial. A charge against Democratic Rep. Paul Rosenthal of Denver was abandoned when the complaint against him alleged an incident that predated his entry into the General Assembly in 2013. Rosenthal has denied the charge.
House Republicans on Thursday called for an investigation into the actions of House Speaker Crisanta Duran, D-Denver, for her handling of the Lebsock complaint.
Rep. Dave Williams, D-Colorado Springs, accused Duran of coverup, and he said she sat on the complaint against Lebsock to help save the seat for Democrats in the 2016 election rather than protect other women.
“Leadership heard about this and chose to sweep it under the rug and thus endanger others in this Capitol,” Williams said.
The complaint against Lebsock was first lodged by Rep. Faith Winter in May 2016, but it wasn’t pursued after Lebsock vowed to get help and not do anything else. Winter filed a formal complaint last November after she heard Lebsock had allegedly misbehaved with other women at the Capitol.
“Back in 2016 there was one victim who came to me to ask for help,” Duran said Thursday. “And that matter was handled the way she wanted it to be handled, and today there are five victims, and, quite frankly, I believe more.”
She also called for a Friday vote.
“At some we have to ask ourselves when is enough enough?” Duran said.
Editor’s note: This story corrected was updated to correct the date when Winter filed her formal complaint.
