Republican gubernatorial hopeful Marc Holtzman said Monday he would look into his campaign manager’s admission that he lied to the media but said an outside investigation was unnecessary.
“I want to know the facts,” Holtzman told The Associated Press. “If what was reported is true, it raises serious concerns.”
His top adviser, Dick Leggitt, testified under oath Friday that he made up poll results he gave to a Denver Post reporter last year. The paper referred to Leggitt and those numbers in an article last year. Leggitt has said he lied because he suspected the reporter was forwarding his e-mails to Holtzman’s opponent, U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez.
Holtzman, who did not return multiple phone calls from the Post, is defending himself against claims that he broke campaign laws by using the If C Wins, You Lose committee as a shadow gubernatorial campaign. The administrative law hearing of that complaint continues today.
John Marshall, campaign manager for Beauprez, said he has not ruled out filing a complaint with either the Colorado attorney general or the Denver district attorney about Leggitt’s conduct.
Colorado law prohibits knowingly or recklessly making “false statements designed to affect the vote” relating to a candidate.
Both agencies said Monday that they would probably not look into the matter unless a complaint was filed.
Marshall said that Leggitt’s admission in an open courtroom didn’t appear to “require a lot of investigation.”
“He admitted he lied,” Marshall said. “Marc Holtzman needs to step up and take responsibility to fire him.”
On Sunday, Marshall said that Holtzman should fire Leggitt and submit his campaign to an investigation to make sure there weren’t widespread problems.
Staff writer Karen Crummy can be reached at 303-820-1594 or kcrummy@denverpost.com.
