McElhany files ethics complaint against ethics watchdog group

Posted: Dec 2, 2009 7:45 PM by News First 5
Updated: Dec 2, 2009 7:45 PM

Former State Senator Andy McElhany has filed an ethics complaint against the director of an ethics watchdog group. Mcelhany says Chantell Taylor, director of Colorado Ethics Watch, violated state Supreme Court rules when she investigated him several years ago.

Sevearl years ago, when McElhany was in office, he set up the website www.coloradosenatenews.com for the senate minority office. He says he used about $2000 dollars in campaign money to do it.

Colorado Ethics Watch requested an investigation into the website, saying this violated the law. "State statute says you cannot use private funds for performing official duties," said Taylor.

A district attorney investigated and decided not to file charges against McElhany. Now, two years later, the tables are turned. On Tuesday, McElhany filed an ethics complaint against Taylor, saying she tried to influence the case by going to the media and posting information on her website. The state Supreme Court has jurisdiction because Taylor is an attorney and the court oversees attorney ethics.

"It's a clear violation of Supreme Court rules that says if you're going to use the judicial process, you can not abuse the judicial process by outside influencing or using it for political propaganda purposes," said McElhany.

Taylor says she had every right to question how McElhany was using the money. "There's nothing unethical about doing that," she said.