US News

‘You Guys Should Be Protecting Me’: Hickenlooper Demands Journalists Defend Him From Ethics Charges

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is demanding journalists defend him from charges that he violated state ethics rules during trips he made around the country in 2018.

Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission released a report Nov. 8 on ethics complaints lodged against Hickenlooper that suggest the former governor improperly received air travel and limousine service. The Colorado Democrat told reporters they should be defending him.

“You guys should be protecting me on stuff like this. What’s the confusion?” Hickenlooper rhetorically asked Next 9News Monday. “I saved the state money.” One of his trips was to Italy to attend a Bilderberg Meeting, which is a gathering place for political functionaries and elites.

Frank McNulty, a Republican, is responsible for leveling the complaints.

McNulty’s complaint alleges Hickenlooper, who is running against Republican Sen. Cory Gardner in 2020, violated Colorado’s gift ban when he took the trips because he received air travel and chauffeured limo service during the trips.

Hickenlooper considered the Bilderberg trip to be a vacation and paid his own way, according to the ethics report. Hickenlooper has maintained his innocence, telling Next 9News that he’d be surprised if the ethics commission determined he acted unethically.

“I have every confidence that we did everything,” he said. “We filled out every form, we did everything right, exactly the way we were told. Go read the laws. They are not exactly — the clarity isn’t excessive, but from what they told us, we think we’d done everything right.”

Still, the report examined other trips Hickenlooper made. He flew to Connecticut on a trip financed by MDC Holdings, a company owned by Hickenlooper donor Larry Mizel. Hickenlooper told investigators that the company refused his request to pay for the flight, the report claims.

The report also scrutinized a complaint that Hickenlooper officiated the wedding of Elon Musk’s brother in Texas.

Hickenlooper dropped his presidential bid in August after failing to gain traction in the polls. Hickenlooper’s senate run would likely give Democrats a strong boost in their efforts to pick up the seat. He’s performing well in the polls against Gardner.

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org

Chris White

Share
Published by
Chris White

Recent Posts

Trump Admin Moves To Hit Illegal Immigrants With Instant, Massive Fines

The Trump administration says it’s done warning illegal immigrants who defy deportation orders before issuing…

1 hour ago

Trump Locks In China Trade Deal, Keeps Pressure On Beijing

The Trump administration has finalized its trade deal with China, but isn’t lifting countermeasures just…

1 hour ago

Supreme Court Keeps Obamacare Task Force Alive

The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the task force that determines the Affordable Care…

1 hour ago

The Oil Price Spike That Didn’t Happen

What if they gave an oil price spike and nobody came? That is admittedly kind…

1 hour ago

President Trump Holds a Press Briefing, June 27, 2025

President Trump holds a briefing on Friday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkgLela6l6o Content created by Conservative Daily News is available…

2 hours ago

Ron DeSantis Shows Off New Alligator-Friendly Facility For Illegals

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave “Fox and Friends” co-host Steve Doocy a tour of…

9 hours ago