Keyser's promise to "always" answer questions is out the window

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by: Jason Salzman

(That was before the forgeries – Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Jon Keyser’s “two ballots.”

Reporters should note that earlier this month, former Rep. Jon Keyser said what some politicians will say, and promised to always answer questions.

The context of May 2 discussion on KOA 850-AM was social issues, but you wouldn’t expect Keyser to have one standard about answering questions on social issues and another standard for other topics, like possible illegal campaign activities.

Keyser’s promise with respect to answering questions was clear (Listen below.):

Keyser: These are all issues that we have to talk about, if it’s a social issue. If it’s a question, I always answer the question. [BigMedia emphasis]

But now, Keyser’s campaign is refusing to answer questions from 7News reporter Marshall Zelinger about signatures that were apparently forged on Keyser’s petition to put his name on the June 28 GOP primary ballot.

Zelinger reported: We reached out to the Keyser campaign with a phone call and text to the spokesman, but as of Tuesday night at 11:45 p.m., he had not returned our call, text or tweets.

It’s not as if Zelinger’s questions are out-of-bounds or anything. He’s found 10 signatures that are clearly forged from people who leave in Congressional District One, where Keyser’s campaign needed to gather 1,500 signatures to make the ballot. He got 1,520 signatures. If you subtract the 10 forged signatures, Keyser is down to 1,510, and all of his signatures from CD 1 haven’t been analyzed yet.

Bottom line, reporters should point out that Keyser has promised in the past to always answer questions. In the wake of this story, he’s not doing so.

5 thoughts on “Keyser’s promise to “always” answer questions is out the window”

TobiasFunke says:

May 11, 2016 at 3:29 pm

I heard his spokesman's response to the investigation was, and I quote, "LOL."

Tight ship you're running over there, Keyser.

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1. taterheaptom says:
  
  May 11, 2016 at 3:44 pm
  
  Forgery is funny when you are running to be a United States Senator.
  
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Republican 36 says:

May 11, 2016 at 4:01 pm

According to Channel 7's report the Secretary of State's response to this is he can't do anything because a judge ordered Keyser be placed on the ballot and therefore he can't do anything about the forgery that's been uncovered. I don't think that's true at all. The Judge's order only dealt with the allegations concerning the petition person from Colorado Springs. Since the forgery is a new basis to look at Keyser's petitions and assuming for purposes of this discussion enough signatures were forged that Keyser has less than 1,500 valid signatures in that congressional district, the secretary of state could act on those facts and remove him from the ballot without violating the judge's order.

One of the Secretary of State's primary duties is to protect the integrity of our elections. Based on Channel 7's report, he certainly should be and has a duty to investigate these allegations. He can't hide behind a judge's order as an excuse to do nothing. The best thing he can do is announce he has initiated an investigation into these allegations of fraud and forgery.

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1. Gray in Mountains says:
  
  May 11, 2016 at 4:48 pm
  
  1) ballots are printed, at least in Lake County, ready to be sent overseas
  
  2) I think SOS ought to sue for removal based on fraud. Can't be removed? Don't count Keyser votes
  
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FrankUnderwood says:

May 11, 2016 at 5:40 pm

The only thing Keyser can say about the petition signature issue is: "On the advice of counsel I respectfully decline to answer that question and assert my Fifth Amendment privilege."

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