Investigative reporter
Sam Tabachnik
Sam Tabachnik is an investigative reporter for The Denver Post. His projects have included deep-dives into the world of illicit antiquities, abuses of migrant workers and unconstitutional practices of Colorado municipal courts.
Before joining The Post, Sam helped produce shows for NBC News, launched digital projects for The Washington Post and covered sports and arts for the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Featured Stories

Unenforced Labor: An investigation into unsafe working conditions in Colorado agriculture
In this three-part special report, The Denver Post uncovers chronic abuses in Colorado’s agricultural supply chain – and the lack of action from state and federal regulators.

How Pueblo weaponizes contempt of court to inflate jail time for minor crimes
Pueblo city judges have sent people to jail for months on charges that in other Colorado courts are punished by one or two days in jail. Experts call it "draconian"...

Looted: Stolen relics, laundered art and a Colorado scholar’s role in the illicit antiquities trade
In this three-part report, The Denver Post investigates the role of Emma Bunker, as "The Scholar," in an illicit antiquities smuggling operation that left Cambodian temples plundered for big money.
All Stories

Denver officers, Adams County sheriff deputies justified in shooting and killing man who held woman hostage in backyard, DA says
Two Denver police officers and three Adams County deputies were justified in shooting and killing a 33-year-old man in September who allegedly fired at officers during a high-speed car chase...

A debate is raging inside Young Life as the Colorado-based ministry faces backlash over LGBTQ policy
Many college students are reevaluating their relationship with Young Life and the organization's stance against letting members of the LGBTQ community serve as leaders, after a viral movement this summer...

The quest to save a dying Spanish dialect in Colorado’s San Luis Valley: “A treasure that exists nowhere else in the world”
Dennis Lopez's eyes light up when he articulates the differences in this dialect, which over the years infused words from various Native American tribes, French fur trappers and American settlers...

Mountain View police seek three for breaking into cannabis businesses
The group is driving a dark blue stolen Jeep Liberty -- license plate DBF646 -- with hail dents and heavy damage to the left rear quarter.

Pedestrian dies after being hit by car in north Denver
The incident occurred at West 38th Avenue and North Alcott Street in Denver's Sunnyside neighborhood, police tweeted just before 9 p.m.

Denver weather: Plenty of sun with slight chance of snow in the mountains
Saturday is shaping up to be a classic fall day in Denver, with moderate temperatures and a slight chance of snow in the mountains.

Weld County commissioners say they won’t enforce state Level Red restrictions as COVID-19 surges
Weld County said Friday it would not obey the new COVID-19 restrictions as the state changes the county's level on the COVID dial.

Maria Berkenkotter, former Boulder County judge, appointed to Colorado Supreme Court
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday named Maria Berkenkotter, a former Boulder County chief judge, to the Colorado Supreme Court.

Colorado Springs named finalist for U.S. Space Command headquarters
Peterson Air Force Base is currently the provisional location for U.S. Space Command headquarters, and since 1982 has been the home for the Air Force Space Command.

TSA security agent at Denver airport dies from COVID-19
A Transportation Security Administration officer at Denver International Airport died Monday due to COVID-19, the federal agency announced in a news release.