Who's Accused? Colorado Lawmaker Sex Harassment Roundup

DENVER, CO -- Updated March 22. Accusations of sexual harassment continue to fly at the Colorado State Capitol, with five legislators under investigation by an independent investigation organization.

Who's accused and what's the fallout?

Here's a roundup of who's been accused, whether accusations have been found credible and what's next:

State Rep. Steve Lebsock: (D-Thornton)

Accused by: State Rep. Faith Winters, a lobbyist and a legislative aide filed official complaints with the (six others did not speak openly for fear of retaliation.)

Accusations: 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. Legislative aide Cassie Tanner alleged Lebsock unbuttoned her blouse at a fundraiser and made lewd comments about her breasts and dress. Former lobbyist Holly Tarry said Lebsock made unwanted sexual advances more than once between 2013 to 2016.

Complaints filed with: House Majority Leader KC Becker, Speaker Christanta Duran

Lebsock was accused Nov. 10 by nine legislators, staffers and lobbyists of sexually inappropriate behavior in a report by Bente Kirkland of KUNC. Three of those women came forward publicly, including Lebsock's colleague State Rep. Faith Winters.

Fallout: 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, which the women characterized as "retaliation."

House Majority Leader KC Becker released a letter saying 11 allegations by five women were "found to be credible by the external investigator."

Lebsock was expelled from the House March 2 by a 52-9 vote.

Paul Rosenthal (D- Denver)

Accuser: Democrat campaign organizer Thomas Cavaness filed a formal complaint and a legislative aide filed in informal complaint.

Accusations: On Nov.15, Cavaness, 29, said Rosenthal touched him inappropriately and then tried to kiss him at a 2012 campaign event, the Post reported. Both men are openly gay. Legislative aide Heather O’Donnell, alleged Rosenthal, 49, tried in 2017 to pressure her into an introduction to her 25-year-old brother.

Complaints filed with: House Speaker Christanta Duran who hired an outside human resources consultant from Employers Council to investigate.

Finding: House Speaker Chrisanta Duran dismissed Cavaness's complaint because Rosenthal was not a lawmaker at the time the alleged harassment. Duran said this was not a determination of innocence of guilt.

Fallout: Rosenthal failed to get enough delegate votes in early district assembly meetings. Emily Sirota and Ashley Wheeland will be on the Democratic primary ballot June 26.

State Sen. Randy Baumgardner (R-Hot Sulphur Springs)

Accused by: Intern Megan Creeden, and six other female lobbyists who spoke anonymously to KUNC.

Accusations: Baumgardner allegedly slapped and grabbed the buttocks of an un-named legislative aide multiple times during the 2016 legislative session. Intern Creeden (25) said Baumgardner pressured her to drink alone in his office and made lewd comments in 2016.

A male staffer filed an official complaint Feb. 21 that Baumgardner created "an offensive and hostile work environment."

Complaints filed with: Republican Senate President Kevin Grantham. Employers Council has investigated the allegations on behalf of legislative leaders.

Findings: KUNC reported that a senate staffer told the accuser Jan. 30 that, “the evidence suggests there should be a consequence."

Fallout: Baumgardner's female accusers's complaints were found "credible" by Employers Council, although Senate President Kevin Grantham said in a letter to Baumgardner that he questioned the process of the independent contractors Employers Council was flawed with "inaccuracies, bias, conflicts of interest, and inconsistencies." Nevertheless, Grantham asked Baumgardner to step down from chair of the transportation committee and ordered the lawmaker to complete "sensitivity training" by mid March.

Baumgardner survived a Senate vote for his expulsion in early April. A second independent firm, Littleton-based Alternative Dispute Resolution, also found complaints credible and revealed that Baumgardner's nickname in the legislature was the "boob grabber."

State Sen Jack Tate (R-Centennial)

Accused by: A former intern, who was 18 at the time, who remained anonymous, filed a formal complaint, which was found "credible" by independent investigators [See investigation report here].

Accusations: Claims Tate was inappropriate with her repeatedly including commenting on her clothes when alone in an elevator and Tate allegedly told her: “if she wanted to move up in the world, give him a call.”

Reported to: Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet by a legislative aide.

Findings: Tate's accuser's claims were declared "credible" by Employer's Council in a Jan. 31 report, KUNC reported.

Fallout: Several female lobbyists and former and present colleagues from the general assembly came to Tate's defense. But KUNC reported that five of Tate's defenders lobbied for bills he sponsored and three gave money to his campaign.

Tate's accuser's claims were declared "credible" by Employer's Council in a Jan. 31 report, KUNC reported. The former intern released the confidential complaint after no action was taken after two months, she said.

State Sen. Larry Crowder (R - Alamosa)

Accused by: State Rep. Susan Lontine (D- Denver)

Accusations: Lontine filed a complaint Nov. 30 that Crowder pinched her buttocks on the House floor and made a lewd remarks.

Reported to: House Speaker Crisanta Duran
Findings: "An outside investigator determined in late December that Lontine’s allegations were 'more credible' than Crowder’s denials," the Denver Post reported.

Fallout: Lontine said she went public with her complaint because she said she believed Sen. President Kevin Grantham is attempting “to gloss over this serious issue.” Grantham said he had not seen a copy of the complaint findings and believed the two legislators had settled it privately, and that Crowder had apologized. She told the Denver Post she knew another woman with whom Crowder had acted inappropriately.

Read more on Patch:

'Boob Grabber' Baumgardner Created Offensive Workplace: Report

'This Is F---n Gay' Colorado Legislative Aide Fired Over Snapchat

Expelled! Colorado House Ousts Lawmaker For Sex Harassment

Colo. Sen Baumgardner Steps Down From Committee, Won't Resign

Sen. Jack Tate Intern Accuser's Complaint Found Credible: Report

Images via Colorado General Assembly