Politics & Government
Colo. House Dems Move To Expel Lebsock On 'Credible' Complaints
No member of the House has been expelled since 1915, but Majority Leader KC Becker wants to move on March 2.
THORNTON, CO -- Colorado House Democrats moved Tuesday to start proceedings to expel State Rep. Steve Lebsock (D-Thornton) from the legislature, based on sexual harassment complaints from five women found "credible" by an independent investigating firm.
House Majority Leader KC Becker released a letter saying 11 allegations by five women were "found to be credible by the external investigator."
"They are very serious allegations and that we really have a responsibility to the body as a whole to this institution to the integrity of what we do here to really hold ourselves to a higher standard," Becker told KUNC.
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Lebsock denied the allegations. "I’m not guilty. I’ve done nothing wrong. I have never sexually harassed anyone," he told the radio station. “I will not be expelled. The members of this body will see what’s going on and I will not be expelled.”
Becker's letter said she hoped to put the matter to a vote on Friday, March 2.
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No member of the legislature has been expelled from the body since 1915.
According to the radio station, to get the necessary votes to oust Lebsock, all Democratic members except Lebsock must vote together, plus at least eight Republicans in the House.
Former legislative aide Cassie Tanner accused Lebsock of unbuttoning her blouse at a political event and made lewd comments about her breasts and clothing. When he denied it, she filed an official complaint against him. That complaint was found credible by the independent Employers Council investigators.
“I never doubted that once the investigation was complete that me and all the other women Lebsock has mistreated would be vindicated because the truth always wins in the end,” Tanner told KUNC.
State Rep. Faith Winters (D-Westminster) alleged Lebsock drunkenly tried to get her to go home with him, in 2016 front of another male colleague.
In November, House Speaker Chrisanta Duran called for Lebsock's resignation and removed him from some working committees. Since then, Lebsock apologized, and said he took a lie-detector test. He also released a YouTube video claiming he was the victim of a "coordinated smear campaign issued a 28-page letter to his fellow legislators accusing his accusers of conspiring against him.
Read the full KUNC article here.
Letter from Colo. House Majority Leader K.C. Becker announcing she will begin proceedings to expel Sate Rep... by JeanLotus on Scribd
More Patch Coverage:
Who's Accused? Colorado Lawmaker Sex Harassment Roundup (Updated)
Sen. Jack Tate Intern Accuser's Complaint Found Credible: Report
Colo. Sen Baumgardner Steps Down From Committee, Won't Resign
'He Unbuttoned My Shirt': New Complaint Against Lawmaker Lebsock
Second Colorado Democrat Lawmaker Accused Of Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment Claims Against Colo. Democratic Lawmaker
Image Steve Lebsock via Colorado Legislature
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