Sen. Leader Wants Capitol Sex Harassment Investigated By DA

DENVER, CO -- As members of the Colorado House prepare Friday to vote on a measure to expel one of their colleagues for sexual harassment, the head of the Colorado Senate announced that any serious sexual harassment charges should be investigated by the Denver District Attorney.

GOP Senate Leader Kevin Grantham (R-Canon City), said some of the sexual harassment complaints being brought against five Colorado lawmakers are serious enough to be considered sexual assault.

“Sexual harassment in the workplace is a serious problem in the United States and right here in Colorado,” Grantham said, according to Colorado Politics. “It is an infection that has spread across our state Capitol, casting into doubt our ability as lawmakers to represent the kind of democracy our constituents can be proud of.
“Of even greater concern, some of these allegations appear tantamount to assault," Grantham said.

"We ask the DA as the people’s lawyer to do the job she was elected by the people to do, to step up to the plate and root out the cancer that is sexual harassment both inside and outside the capitol,” Grantham said.

Meanwhile, House Leader KC Becker has proposed a vote Friday to expel State Rep. Steve Lebsock (D-Thornton) after the formal complaints of five women were found "credible" by an internal investigator.

Colo. House Dems Move To Expel Lebsock On 'Credible' Complaints
Who's Accused? Colorado Lawmaker Sex Harassment Roundup (Updated)

Colorado Politics reporter Joey Bunch said the investigation of sex harassment allegations in the Capitol has become "draped with politics."

"Grantham’s request could give Republican lawmakers cover to vote against the expulsion on Friday," Bunch wrote.

DA McCann said any accusations of sexual assault that would be investigated criminally would have to be filed with the Denver police.

"Criminal sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact are serious crimes defined by state statute, and are prosecutable by the state’s district attorneys and attorney general," McCann said in a statement.

"In Denver, the criminal investigative process begins with a victim filing a complaint with the Denver Police Department, which has a specialized sexual assault unit that investigates whether a possible criminal act has occurred. Denver District Attorney sexual assault prosecutors work closely with DPD’s sexual assault detectives in helping to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant the filing of criminal charges. If so, charges are then filed.

"The Denver District Attorney’s Office encourages any victim who wishes to report any criminal sexual misconduct by a state legislator that occurred in Denver to file a complaint with the Denver Police Department to begin the investigative process to determine whether such conduct constitutes a prosecutable crime. If the alleged misconduct occurred in a judicial district other than Denver, the victim is encouraged to contact the local law enforcement agency in that jurisdiction to initiate a criminal investigation.

Read more Colorado Politics coverage here.

More on Patch:

More Patch Coverage:

Colo. House Dems Move To Expel Lebsock On 'Credible' Complaints

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 via Colorado Legislature