It has been rumored for days now that Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, former Rep. Tom Tancredo, and Pueblo GOP Party Chair Becky Mizel might be in some legal trouble for trying to oust State Republican Chair Steve House, but until now the mainstream media has been silent. No more. 9News reports that House has reached out to both Federal and State prosecutors in the matter.
The Denver District Attorney - one of the two prosecutor's offices contacted - should have state jurisdiction in the matter, and has on occasion looked in to political corruption issues in the past. The US Attorney's office sometimes looks in to illegal actions of high-level state officials as well, and that is the other office that House has contacted. I've written in a previous diary that House has one other option if he has proof: he could file a complaint before the ethics committee of the state Supreme Court, which could trigger disbarment for AG Coffman, forcing her to leave her position.
There's no indication as to whether or not an investigation has been opened, but there is some other news coming from the Colorado Republican Party soap opera. Follow below the doodle for more.
Colorado Pols has been reporting since the weekend that the prosecution shoe might drop soon. Their writing as of yesterday says today or tomorrow, though they have not revealed their sources.
Conservative blog Politichicks writes today with a purported "tell-all" interview with Steve House's mistress. It's pretty bland as far as affairs go, and certainly nothing that would force your average Republican politician "sinner" to resign if it was true. The only problem is: it's not the only interview out there, and they don't all agree. Worse for the conspiring group, there's nothing coming out to refute the extortion plot.
But wait - there's more! Colorado Pols, who has been all over this story, now reports that there's a fourth person who is hip deep in the plot to overthrow the state party chair. That person is Mike McAlpine, who was involved in last year's gun lobby recall efforts against Dem State Senators.
There was supposed to be a State GOP Executive Committee hearing last night to talk about the mess, but I haven't heard any reports that it actually took place. Some folks on the pro-coup side insinuated that Chairman House was attempting to block the meeting.
I don't know how long the Colorado Republican Party can sustain this mess. People are talking, little bits are dribbling out, and while it hasn't really reached the public crisis stage yet, it's starting to get to the Republican activist base.