Gov. John Hickenlooper’s campaign lawyers are asking TV stations to refuse to air a death penalty ad attacking him because it contains a significant error.
The last frame of the ad states: “Now John Hickenlooper is threatening a ‘full clemency’ for Nathan Dunlap that could set him free.” The ad sites an Aug. 25 story in The Denver Post, but the article never mentions the governor setting Dunlap free. Clemency is not setting someone free. That would require a pardon.
“The statement in the ad is fragrantly false, misleading and factually inaccurate,” Hickenlooper’s attorneys said in their cease-and-desist letter.
The ad is from the Republican Governors Association, which was asked by The Post earlier today about the error. The group, which is spending $2 million to air the spot attacking Hickenlooper, did not respond.
The ad features a heartbroken Dennis O’Connor, whose 17-year-old daughter Colleen was one of four people killed at an Aurora pizzeria in 1993 by Dunlap, a disgruntled former employee. O’Connor said he waited 20 years for justice to be done, but Hickenlooper “robbed” the victims with his decision to indefinitely delay the execution.
“He’s a coward who doesn’t deserve to be in office,” O’Connor says.
The video of Dennis O’Connor was shot by A Better Colorado Future, a political group run by Republican operatives Kelly Maher and Andy George. Last week, of O’Connor describing his ordeal.
Hickenlooper faces former Congressman Bob Beauprez, a Republican, on Nov. 4.
