Panel begins Bradford inquiry

By Charles Ashby
Monday, February 6, 2012

DENVER — A House ethics panel investigating a Mesa County legislator said Monday it couldn’t believe the media accounts about a traffic stop last month that led to the probe, but then decided to ask the media for copies of those accounts.

The five-member panel, which is investigating the events surrounding Rep. Laura Bradford’s stop by Denver police on suspicion of drinking while driving, also said it planned to gather what police evidence it could in an attempt to determine if the Collbran Republican violated ethics rules.

Rep. Tom Massey, R-Poncha Springs, said the committee should be as expedient as possible in its investigation.

“I think time is of the essence because this is a significant detraction from the work we’re trying to do in the House,” Massey, chairman of the panel, said at the panel’s first hearing.

The committee, made up of three Republicans and two Democrats, said police and media reports could help members decide if there is probable cause to continue with the investigation.

Initially, police said Bradford invoked a legislative privilege that prevented them from checking her blood-alcohol level only to reverse themselves days later, saying at least one officer forced the privilege on her and then lied about it. That officer now is under police investigation.

The committee is to look at whether Bradford was driving under the influence and if Bradford invoked the privilege to get out of a DUI.

If there is sufficient probable cause to show an ethics violation, the committee can take testimony and subpoena witnesses. It has until March 2 to complete its investigation.

Bradford, who did not attend Monday’s hearing, also has the right to present and cross-examine witnesses, and can be represented by an attorney.

Part of the probe is to include where Bradford was before the traffic stop. The legislator said she was with former lawmakers and lobbyists at a Denver bar discussing pending bills, an event she called a legislative function.

The committee said it would ask Bradford to present any documents she wished to show indicating whether the after-hours event was a legislative function or just happy hour.

The panel also said Bradford could present any statement about the incident she wished to make.

If the panel gets that information by the end of the week, it will meet again on Monday.

“I will be cooperating with the ethics panel to the extent that I can, and anticipate being exonerated,” Bradford said in a statement. “Last week, the Denver Police Department announced that I did not invoke legislative immunity. I believe the ethics panel will arrive at the same conclusion.”