Extent of Beauprez campaign law breaking comes to light

An ICE agent who allegedly broke the law by accessing a federal criminal database for political purposes is on trial and new testimony has exposed the Beauprez campaign, the Colorado Republican party and others as unethical liars who were distrubingly desperate to win the 2006 Colorado gubernatorial campaign. Cory Voorhis has been a rallying point for many on the right. As far as they are concerned Voorhis is an American hero who was merely exposing then gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter for the illegal-immigrant lover that he is. The party of law and order has excused Voorhis flagrant law breaking with Bob Beauprez likening him to a "courageous whistle-blower."

Their dissembling on the case essentially boiled down to "never mind the law breaking, he was exposing the truth!"

Except that he wasn't and they've all known this the entire time. Today's Rocky reports,

In federal court testimony on Thursday, a Republican Party contract researcher said the ad was not backed up by public records, but the Bob Beauprez campaign ran it anyway...

On Oct. 6, 2006, with Beauprez's campaign double-digits behind in the polls, Marshall was desperate to turn it around with information about the plea deal, Winkler testified. The ad was prepared and sent to stations ready to run but awaiting confirmation the information was correct, Winkler said. Then, Winkler, the party and the campaign received public record information from California that did not support the ad, Winkler said.

The Oct. 6 fax shows the names did not match - Walter Ramon, not Ramo, was listed as the alias of Eugene Estrada, not Carlos Estrada Medina. In addition, the sexual assault charges against Estrada had been dropped.

Winkler testified he was concerned about the ad because under Colorado law, running an incorrect political ad can be a crime. Winkler said that's why he organized a conference call with Marshall, state Republican Party Chairman Hans Gullickson, party spokesman Bryant Adams and party attorney Ryan Call on Oct. 6.

"We had everyone sign off" on not running the ad, Winkler said, including Call.

This is pretty embarrassing for all involved. It is now clear that a sitting U.S. Congressman was so desperate to win the 2006 Colorado gubernatorial race he signed off on an ad he knew was false. When ad blew up in his face Beauprez and his campaign manager have chosen to lie to the press and the public about the ad for some 19 months now. The highest reaches of the Colorado Republican party knew the ad was based on a lie and have known this for 19 months and they've said nothing. Local radio blow hard Peter Boyles has gone on the radio for 19 months maligning the record of then Denver-DA and now Colorado Governor Bill Ritter based on a fabricated story.

Throw in the fact that yesterday's testimony very well could lead to criminal charges against the Beauprez campaign and you really couldn't have a more disastrous story.

Bravo gentleman, bravo. You've really done yourselves, your party and your cause proud with this episode.

cross-posted at Colorado Pols