Denver, CO – Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission released a report of their investigation into allegations that former Governor John Hickenlooper illegally accepted gifts. The Colorado Sun recently covered the report, which stems from this ethics complaint.
The report does not draw conclusions. Instead, it compiles information from interviews, as well as bank and other records. The commission will have to make that determination at a later date.
What folks may find especially interesting about the report are Hickenlooper’s high-powered connections. Specifically, Kimbal Musk, brother to Tesla leader Elon Musk. Kimbal Musk serves on Tesla’s board of directors.
Hickenlooper officiated Musk’s wedding in April of 2018. The now failed presidential candidate joined Musk on his company’s private plane to return to Colorado. According to the report, Hickenlooper paid for the flight with a personal check, but the check was never cashed.
Hickenlooper issued an executive order in 2018 to adopt low-emission vehicle standards by 2025. Governor Jared Polis then issued an executive order to adopt California’s zero-emission policy after he took office.
Obviously, both policies benefit electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla. Hickenlooper and Musk both claim they did not discuss the low-emission vehicle standards during the flight.
There is certainly appears to be a conflict of interest at play here, though we find it unlikely Hickenlooper will be fined over the alleged gift. According to Complete Colorado, emails that could answer questions about Hickenlooper’s executive order were denied or destroyed.
So, we may never know what we want to know about Hickenlooper’s alleged dealings with Tesla’s Musk brothers. Though, the report and any subsequent fines will likely play a role in Hickenlooper’s bid to oust Senator Cory Gardner.
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There is clear conflict of interest, failure to report, and other violations relating to multiple events. The Independent Ethics Commission BETTER do their job! Because Hickenlooper offered a check is absolutely not sufficient. Just think if the offering of a check (that is not cashed) were to become normal practice. Gifts of any size could be regularly given, so long as a check for reimbursement is offered. This would completely undermine the ethics laws’ intent. Simply not acceptable.
I also recommend an investigation into Federal Aviation Regulations and related compliance issues. Normally, the owner of the airplane should not seek reimbursement per FAA regulations. Otherwise it could be construed by the FAA as a commercial flight subject to commercial flight rules. Since Hickenlooper has an obligation to pay, the FAA does make exception but this must be done under a a pro-rata share of the flight costs connected to direct operating costs (gas, oil, parking). If there were three people in the airplane, Hickenlooper would be required to pay 1/3rd of the costs. Failure to do this would subject Hickenlooper to FAA penalties which are usually fines. Bottom line: there may be FAA civil penalties for Hickenlooper’s actions as well.