Gessler’s defense in ethics case has cost $122K

Records show Colorado Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler’s legal defense to fight an ethics complaint over office expenses has cost the state about $122,000.

Colorado’s Independent Ethics Commission admonished Gessler last month for using his office’s discretionary account for travel to a GOP elections law conference in Florida last summer. While there, Gessler also attended the party’s national convention.

Colorado Ethics Watch, which filed the complaint against Gessler, said Thursday that a records request showed the costs of Gessler’s legal defense through June 30. Gessler maintains that the use of his discretionary account was proper and he plans an appeal.

The state’s ethics commission ruled that he “breached the public trust for private gain” and levied a fine of $1,514 fine.