Tip of the Iceberg

There are numerous confirmed Governor Hickenlooper ethics violations that occurred outside of the IEC’s jurisdiction.  While these will not be part of the formal ethics complaint process, Governor Hickenlooper should still be accountable for them.   

  • Hickenlooper violations that occurred outside the IEC 12 month window. Section III of the original complaint details many of these flights that date back to 2012 including a private flight from Vail to Super Bowl 50 (beyond the flight it’s also not clear who paid for Hickenlooper’s Superbowl ticket); flights to Davos, Switzerland on the Liberty Media Corporate Jet; and other flights to WY, AR, and Aspen aboard the Liberty Media Corporate Jet. There are also several flights out of Rocky Mountain Airport. These were submitted to the IEC to show a pattern of disregard for Amend. 41. Hickenlooper has never had to explain himself for these flights.

  • Corporations have never been contacted. Liberty Media, DaVita, MDC Holdings, TTECH, Meyers/Consumer Capital Partners have never been asked by the press to provide records of the times that their corporate plans were used by Hickenlooper or asked for comments on how many times Hickenlooper flew on their planes or their corporate policies for flying elected officials.

  • 2012 Trip to Israel. Governor Hickenlooper traveled to Israel in 2013 on a personal trip that was paid for by MDC Holdings owner Larry Mizel. Governor Hickenlooper gave an interview about the trip to the Colorado Statesman after the trip, acknowledging that the trip was paid for by Mizel. “Larry planned the vast majority of it… …I have to say it’s one of the most generous things in terms of the gifts people can give you…” According to Hickenlooper the trip included helicopter rides across the country, a night in an “organic” bed and breakfast. https://coloradopolitics.com/994143-hickenlooper-trip-israel-was-most-remarkable-my-life/

  • Disclosure Failure. Hickenlooper’s response claimed that many of his flights were gifts to the state but failed to ever properly and lawfully disclose them. Hickenlooper is responsible for reporting certain “gifts” in accordance with C.R.S. § 24-6-203, including any gifts that are not exempted from Amendment 41 and including any gifts that are deemed to be given to the state rather than to Governor Hickenlooper.

  • Corporate sponsored events. Hickenlooper is known in political circles for enjoying social events and it often raised questions how he could attend so many corporate sponsored events when other politicians stayed away because of Amend. 41. Here are a few:

    • Court-side Tickets to Nuggets Game: On January 3, 2018, Governor Hickenlooper attended the Nuggets/Suns basketball game in Denver.  Governor Hickenlooper sat in courtside seats with his former Chief of Staff, Doug Friednash who returned to private practice on January 2, 2018, chairing the Government Relations Department of a national law firm. 

    • August 1-3, 2018: Artcrush Aspen – event sponsored by Sotheby’s, Audi, Dom Pérignon, Flexjet, J.P. Morgan, Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, and W Magazine

      https://www.aspenartmuseum.org/artcrush/underwriting

    • January 16, 2018: Denver Industry Night – Hedge Row

    • October 13, 2017: Governor Hickenlooper attended the Carousel Ball, a black-tie event sponsored by Mercedes Benz.