(Molly Bruns, Holder USA) Faith Winter, a Democratic state senator from Westminster, Colo., led an April legislative meeting while intoxicatedthen parked in a fire lane before entering and driving the meeting with drunks.
Seconds on Colorado Public Radioa bipartisan committee opened a ethics complaint against her for her actions. Officials used video footage of the meeting, as well as body camera footage of concerned police officers, as evidence of the complaint.
The day after the meeting, he announced he would seek help and entered a rehab facility.
On Thursday, a state Senate ethics committee voted to move forward with a complaint against Winter for appearing drunk.
“I just want to say that this is difficult. This is bullshit,” said state Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, chairwoman of the ethics committee.
“This whole situation has been really difficult, because when she's at her best, Senator Winter is phenomenal at maintaining trust and integrity,” Gonzalez added.
The ethics complaint alleged that Winter failed to “maintain her position with integrity.”
The Rules of Legislative Conduct state that an elected official must “at all times perform his legislative duties in a manner that promotes public confidence.”
According to the complaint, Winter refused to answer direct questions and appeared argumentative and difficult.
Thursday's vote simply confirmed the continuation of the investigation into the matter, and the committee did not announce any conclusive disciplinary action.
If the committee concludes that Winter violated ethics rules, he could face removal from his committee duties or official censure.
Nearly 400 people attended the kick-off meeting to discuss a mental health facility moving into a local neighborhood. Some residents expressed concern that the facility would likely end up housing sex offenders as a result of a bill sponsored by Winter.
Winter began her public term in 2014. She is currently in her second term as a state senator.
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