State ethics commission releases investigative report on Hickenlooper complaint

The state ethics commission focused on travel related to a June 2018 trip to Turin, Italy, for the Bilderberg Meeting, an annual forum "designed to foster dialogue between Europe and North America." The commission also investigated Hickenlooper's travel to Connecticut in March 2018 for the commissioning of the USS Colorado; private travel to New Jersey in January 2018 and to a wedding in Texas in April 2018; and travel to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in August 2018 to attend the American Enterprise Institute’s Jackson Hole Symposium.

With regard to the USS Colorado commissioning, a foundation operated by MDC Holdings, whose owner, Larry Mizel, was an event sponsor. The foundation did not cover the costs for the Connecticut trip, the report said. However, MDC Holdings "covered the cost" of Hickenlooper's air transportation.

In his response, Hickenlooper said the state paid for his lodging in Connecticut. MDC Holdings did pay for his air travel through use of a private plane. Hickenlooper said he offered to cover the cost but MDC declined.

MDC general counsel Michael Touff, in an interview for the report, said that the commissioning was intended to honor the state of Colorado and its veterans. He could not recall whether Hickenlooper attended all of the meals associated with the 2018 event, although he was present at some of them and gave speeches at those events.

Touff did not reply to a request for information on whether MDC Holdings had business before the state in which the governor could have an impact during the planning of the commissioning or the event itself.

https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/state-ethics-commission-releases-investigative-report-on-hickenlooper-complaint/article_c58e2cb0-0191-11ea-a84b-3b673f7ae36c.html