January 15, 2009 05:12 AM UTC

The "Balmer Files"

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• by: Colorado Pols

Watchdog group Colorado Ethics Watch posted a set of documents from the ethics proceedings against Rep. Dave Balmer, who is accused of using lobbyists to improperly pressure a freshman legislator in support of his his bid for House minority leader:

Two committees of state legislators are investigating allegations that Rep. David Balmer (R-Centennial) and a lobbyist coordinated to unlawfully influence the election for Colorado House Minority Leader.  

While documents submitted to the committees are public records, there is no convenient way for Coloradans who are interested in the proceedings, but don’t have time to travel to the State Capitol, to review the documents.  Ethics Watch has obtained copies of the public files of the two committees and is pleased to be able to make them available to the public at coloradoforethics.org.

Here are the .PDF scans of complaints and responses for Balmer and the lobbyist in question, Eric Groves. Everything in these from what we can see has already been reported, as you know the whole defense for Balmer rests on sworn affidavits that all of these evidently connected actions…somehow weren’t.

Sure, maybe it’s all true as sworn, and maybe some lobbyist really did ask ex-Rep. Mike Garcia to whip out his meat in a crowded nightclub.

Come on, it’s possible.