DENVER—A panel of Colorado legislators recommended on Friday that state Rep. Douglas Bruce be censured and that he apologize to his colleagues for kicking a newspaper photographer.
The recommendation goes to House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who will make the final decision.
Bruce kicked Rocky Mountain News photographer Javier Manzano on Monday during a prayer on the floor of the House. Manzano said he was just doing his job at the time.
Bruce said the photographer goaded him and was at fault for creating a disruption. Bruce also denied that what he did was a kick, saying he gently pushed the photographer away with his foot.
The Colorado Springs Republican is a midterm appointee who was not sworn in until several hours after the kicking incident.
A panel of three Republicans and three Democrats was formed to investigate and make recommendations to Romanoff, a Democrat. Romanoff said he is looking forward to reading the recommendations.
The vote to recommend censure was unanimous. The vote on the apology was 5-1. Rep. Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville, voted against an apology, saying it wouldn’t do any good unless Bruce accepted that what he did was wrong.
Bruce was defiant before the panel, saying the “paparazzi” were hounding him.
“I categorically state I did not violate the order and decorum of the House,” he said.
He also accused two photographers and a local television station of conspiring to get him, saying a photographer from The Denver Post persuaded a photographer from the Rocky Mountain News to take a picture, even though Bruce wagged his finger and told him not to take a picture during the prayer. He said a television photographer was lying in wait, zooming in on Bruce’s face to get his reaction.
“They were in a coordinated effort to be provocative,” Bruce said.
Bruce said it was ironic because he was trying to preserve the order and dignity of the House during the prayer.
Manzano told lawmakers Bruce had no right to try to censure the news and told lawmakers he was only doing his job. He said a competitor from The Denver Post had already taken two pictures of Bruce as the prayer began. He said television cameras also were rolling during the prayer.
“He as a publicly elected figure cannot tell the members of the media what photographs to take, which ones not to take,” Manzano said.
Denver Post photographer Mark T. Osler told lawmakers Bruce had earlier made an issue of his religion, making it newsworthy. He noted that the representative-elect showed reporters his family Bible and noted the passage he was going to use, John 8:33, which says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” and suggested others in the chamber wouldn’t know what it meant.
John Wallin, sergeant at arms for the House, testified that both reporters were following House rules. He also said he saw Bruce kick the photographer.
Legislative legal advisers said the committee could have recommended a reprimand, censure or expulsion. They were also told they could levy a fine and order an apology.
Censure is considered more severe than a reprimand because it can be read at length on the floor and the member may be required to stand in the well of the House while it is read. It only requires a majority vote to pass.
Lawmakers said they may require Bruce to reappear before the committee if he refuses to apologize, to consider further punishment.
Panel members said they were repulsed by what Bruce did and told him they were concerned he might assault a fellow lawmaker if he became annoyed during floor debate.
“You know, the chamber that we work in is often full of controversy. We often disagree on many things. We’re often irritated by someone’s lack of not maybe understanding what we’re trying to get across. We’re often annoyed at someone’s stand on an issue. We don’t really know you,” said Rep. Judy Solano, D-Brighton.
Bruce tried to reassure members it wouldn’t happen again.
“No, I’m not going to do this to any member. I’m not going to do this to any photographer. I’m not going to do this to anybody,” Bruce said.
