The case for impeachment of Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold was presented by state House Republicans to the Judiciary Committee at the State Capitol. The committee, consisting of eight Democrats and three Republicans, listened to over five hours of testimony before ultimately voting against impeaching Griswold, who is a Democrat. Republicans claimed Griswold denied former President Donald Trump due process when she attempted to disqualify him from Colorado’s primary ballot. Griswold argued that Trump’s actions during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol made him an insurrectionist and therefore disqualified him from public office. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against this claim brought by Colorado voters, stating that Trump did not violate the insurrectionist clause in the 14th Amendment.
One of the key arguments made by Republicans was that Griswold, as an attorney and Secretary of State, should have known that attempting to remove a candidate from the ballot without a conviction is wrongful and unlawful. Griswold dismissed the impeachment proceedings as a sham and reiterated that due process only applies when the government seeks to deprive someone of their life, liberty, or property, not differentiating it to statements made by her. The accusations also included malfeasance and violating the public trust by preventing a free and open election through actions against President Trump. Griswold defended herself by producing evidence of Trump being listed on the GOP presidential primary ballot for 2024 and labeling him as an oath-breaking insurrectionist who poses a danger to the country and democracy.
House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese argued that Griswold had crossed the line multiple times, emphasizing the need for a neutral and unbiased Secretary of State. It was mentioned during the hearing that Griswold targets Republicans in campaign finance complaints, retaliates against critics, and spends excessive taxpayer dollars on self-promotion. The focus of the resolution was on Griswold’s actions related to Trump, but witnesses also testified about her broader behavior that undermines confidence in the electoral system. Griswold countered these arguments by stating that she is committed to protecting democracy and will not be silenced in carrying out her duties to uphold the constitution and democracy.
The impeachment proceedings against Griswold were ultimately voted down by the majority-Democrat House Judiciary Committee, indicating that there was not enough evidence or support to remove her from office. Griswold’s stance on President Trump’s disqualification and her actions as Secretary of State were the main points of contention throughout the hearing. Despite the accusations of bias, malfeasance, and undermining electoral confidence, Griswold stood by her decisions and claims, stating that she will continue to fulfill her duties as Secretary of State without being deterred by the impeachment attempt. The clash between the Republicans’ allegations and Griswold’s defense highlighted the broader political divisions and issues within the Colorado state government.
