Colorado secretary of state target of probe over expenses

(Reuters) - Colorado's secretary of state is the target of a criminal investigation over allegations that he spent public money to attend two partisan political events in Florida in August, the Denver District Attorney's Office said on Monday.

Scott Gessler, a Republican, is under investigation for improperly billing taxpayers for travel to a Republican election law event in Sarasota, Florida, and then to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, even though he was not a delegate.

"After reviewing the complaint, the decision was made about a week ago that a formal investigation into the allegations was warranted," said Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, a Democrat.

A spokesman for Gessler could not be immediately reached for comment.



http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/us-colorado-corruption-idUSBRE8A508420121106