During last night’s Colorado Democratic Senate primary debate, John Hickenlooper pointedly refused to apologize for violating state ethics rules and defying a subpoena to avoid testifying about them, becoming the first person in history to be found in contempt by the Independent Ethics Commission.
9 News’ Kyle Clark summarized Hickenlooper’s response: “Didn’t hear an apology or anything about the fact that you are the first person to be held in contempt by them for refusing a subpoena.”
Democrats are increasingly nervous about Hickenlooper’s ethics issues dragging down his candidacy. Andrew Romanoff, Hickenlooper’s primary opponent, called on Hickenlooper to drop out of the race during the debate: “John Hickenlooper just wrote the Republicans’ ad against him twice now… I believe he should consider withdrawing from the race.”
Hickenlooper can’t wish this political catastrophe away or pretend it never happened. Hickenlooper’s poor choices and arrogant disregard for the law are defining his entire candidacy, and his refusal to apologize only makes things worse.