Colorado Secretary Of State Under Investigation For Taxpayer-Funded Trip To GOP Voter Suppression Meeting

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/11/06/1149211/colorado-secretary-of-state-under-investigation-for-taxpayer-funded-trip-to-gop-voter-suppression-meeting/

Secretary of State Scott Gessler (R-CO)

The Denver District Attorney and and Colorado's Independent Ethics Commission will investigate allegations that Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler (R) improperly used taxpayer dollars to travel to a Republican election law event hosted by a pro-voter suppression group and to his party's national convention.

Gessler was elected in 2010 on a platform of fighting "election fraud" — a largely non-existent problem — and of guaranteeing "fair and open elections." But, the Coloradoan reports, he traveled in July to a Republican National Lawyers Association election law conference which included a panel presentation on the role of states and voter ID laws and charged $1,105.17 for the trip to his office budget. He also requested and received reimbursement from his office's discretionary fund to pay for his travel to the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August. Colorado forbids such expenditures for personal or political purposes and violations could constitute a misdemeanor.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday:

rest http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/11/06/1149211/colorado-secretary-of-state-under-investigation-for-taxpayer-funded-trip-to-gop-voter-suppression-meeting/