Two days before key county assemblies, e-mails went out to Republicans noting the Navy had once charged a person named “Sias” with rape.
Lang Sias, a Navy veteran and one of four Republicans running in the 7th Congressional District, believes the e-mails were intended to mislead voters into thinking he was the person charged.
“Look, I know perfectly well that politics is a contact sport,” he said. “But there are levels, and this is a particularly egregious one, especially with that word. I don’t even want to say the word (rape). It’s just gross.”
The e-mails were sent before the Jefferson and Arapahoe county assemblies April 10. At the events, Sias publicly condemned the attack on him.
“First of all, it isn’t me and I can prove it,” he said. “The second thing is, I’ve been shot at before and all this does is invigorate me to go to Washington and help drain that swamp.”
Former U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez, who gave up his seat in the 7th District to run for governor in 2006, hasn’t endorsed in the race. But he is among those outraged at the attack on Sias.
“This is disgusting,” Beauprez said.
Beauprez received the anonymous e-mail from politicscolorado@gmail.com. Others received it from teapartypatriot- 1787@gmail.com.
Sias served as an aviator and a “Top Gun” instructor and director during his 12-year stint in the Navy, ending in 1998. The 50-year-old Arvada resident is now with the Air National Guard and also is a Federal Express pilot.
In response to the e-mails, Sias released his Navy “fitness and counseling records” to try to clear his name.
The reviews were glowing: “Absolutely magnificent performer. Intelligent, innovative, aggressive, organized and meticulous,” one superior wrote.
“Lt. Sias is the best lieutenant in my command and is the most accomplished TOPGUN instructor and talented Naval officer I have ever observed,” another wrote.
The scurrilous e-mails provided a link to Texas defense attorney Daphne Pattison’s website. A click on the link revealed a grid of cases where she showcased her successes.
The grid simply lists the name of the case, the charge and the outcome. One entry reads: “US Navy vs Sias, rape, acquittal.”
Sias said a campaign consultant contacted Pattison the night before the assemblies and was told someone had earlier called her about the case for a “research project.”
Sias said Pattison’s office informed the caller the case did not involve a naval aviator.
Pattison could not be reached for comment. But she sent Sias a letter dated April 12 saying “this will serve to confirm that you are not the person identified on my website as having been acquitted of rape. I do not now and have never represented you.”
Sias said it would be “difficult but not impossible” to try to track down the e-mail sender.
Also running in the GOP primary are Ryan Frazier, Mike Deming and Michael Sheely. The 7th CD seat is held by Democrat Ed Perlmutter.
Representatives for Frazier and Sheely said their campaigns had no involvement with the e-mails. Deming could not be reached for comment.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
