DA Under Fire, Again
By Tak Landrockt.landrock@krdo.com
EL PASO COUNTY – District Attorney John Newsome could soon be under investigation by the very agency he works with on a day-to-day basis. On Monday, State Senator John Morse, a Democrat who represents Colorado Springs, asked Chief Richard Myers to look into allegations of Newsome using public funds for his own gain.
The three-page letter outlines a trip Newsome took back in October to investigate a homicide case. On that trip, he stayed an extra two days to watch his alma mater play football. The letter alleges that Newsome charged taxpayers his per diem for the hotel room, food, rental car and other expenses.
“I am a former police chief, somebody who is familiar with the law. I can see this fact se and say something is rotten in Denmark,” says Morse. He tells NEWSCHANNEL 13 that since no one else is asking for an investigation, he feels he needs to. “There are enough facts here on the table, that you can’t turn away from this.”
Sergeant Creighton Brandt says no investigation will take place until the letter is received on the Senator’s official letterhead, which should arrive Tuesday or Wednesday.
District Attorney John Newsome feels that in light of his re-election bid, the timing of the letter is suspicious. “These are baseless allegations and politically motivated,” Newsome said in an e-mail statement to NEWSCHANNEL 13. “It is cheap political theater, and we are surprised that someone in his position would involve himself in this fashion. A democrat staging this at the same time ballots are being mailed can only help one candidate.”
Newsome did pay the county back for the $584.90 he charged after media reports first surfaced back in April.
Morse isn’t swayed by Newsome’s contention that this is a politically motivated attack. “You don’t get to commit felonies just because you’re running for election. You don’t get to commit felonies during an election year,” says Morse.
If Newsome is investigated and found guilty it would be a class five felony. It would mean probation and possible jail time. It would also end his political career in Colorado, since the law prohibits him from holding an elected position.
To read Senator Morse’s Letter To Chief Myers click here
To read John Newsome’s response click here.
