DENVER—A legislative ethics committee doesn’t believe a lobbyist accused of threatening a lawmaker violated rules of conduct. However, panel members say they’re concerned that Nate Gorman accused two lawmakers of lying during the investigation.
The panel on Friday passed its findings onto legislative leaders, who will decide whether Gorman violated the rules and whether he should be sanctioned.
Rep. Wes McKinley says Gorman shook his fist and “threatened to cut out my lying tongue” during an alleged confrontation over McKinley’s bill. Gorman denies that it happened.
Only threats intended to influence votes violate the rules. Since McKinley and Gorman hadn’t been getting along, lawmakers concluded there was no chance that the alleged threat would have swayed McKinley.
