Hannah Metzger
Audio By Carbonatix
Three of Colorado’s Republican members of Congress joined forces in a virtual show on September 17 to demand that Governor Jared Polis convene a second special session of the Colorado Legislature to reform or repeal a series of laws the GOP lawmakers say “contributed to the current poor state of public safety in Colorado.” Representatives Gabe Evans, Lauren Boebert and Jeff Crank had all signed a September 12 letter to Polis, and held a joint online press conference yesterday afternoon to expand on its sentiments.
A press release accompanying the letter said it was sent in response to the release of a potentially dangerous man in Weld County, whose charges were dropped after he was determined to be incompetent to stand trial. The Weld County Sheriff’s Office posted videos alleged to be of the assailant to its X account, along with a quote attributed to Sheriff Steve Reams: “The state legislature and the Governor have continued to weaken the criminal justice system by handcuffing law enforcement, prosecutors and judges for the sake of criminals. Colorado HB24-1034 has created a crisis where very dangerous individuals are being released to the street to reoffend over and over, this is the latest example. I pray this individual doesn’t hurt another innocent victim, but the public deserves to know of his past violent actions so they can protect themselves accordingly. God help this State.”
The man was released under HB24-1034, signed into law by Polis on June 4, 2024, which allows for the release of arrestees who are found by a court to be incompetent to stand trial.
Polis offered a rejoinder to that in a response sent to the reps yesterday: “We are actively working with and supporting District Attorneys, law enforcement, the Colorado Department of Human Services, and legislators who are working on a policy solution related to HB24-1034, bipartisan legislation that passed with veto-proof majorities, including the House 52-9 and Senate unanimously, but has unfortunately led to unintended consequences.”
The September 12 letter from the top GOPs cited a collection Polis-signed laws that they would like reformed or repealed.
- HB24-1034, which allows for the rapid release of potential dangers to Colorado communities if they are found by a court to not be competent to stand trial.
- HB19-1225, which eliminated cash bail for certain offenses
- SB21-71, which eliminated cash bail for juveniles who commit delinquent acts including those SB21-271 which reduced sentencing for some felonies and misdemeanor offenses, including for repeat retail theft and some auto thefts
- HB21-1209, which expanded expedited parole consideration reserved for juveniles to individuals convicted as adults, such as cop killer Raul Gomez-Garcia
- SB21-131, which limits Colorado law enforcement officers from sharing certain information with federal counterparts on illegal immigrants who are reasonably suspected of a crime
- SB25-276, which imposes draconian penalties on law enforcement officers who share certain information with federal counterparts on illegal immigrants who are reasonably suspected of a crime
Polis’s response to the reps includes this: “It is to my bewilderment that you chose to write to me while Congress is barrelling toward a shutdown of the federal government, and none of you have been on record as to whether to extend the premium enhanced tax credit (EPTC) to avoid health insurance costs skyrocketing for Coloradans. H.R.1, which you all voted for, kicked people off of health care and forced the legislature back into special session to eliminate the massive budget hole the law created.”
The governor also noted that “in the first three months of 2025, Colorado saw 13 percent less violent crime and 29 percent less property crime than we did in the first three months of 2023.”
That didn’t rate a mention at the virtual press conference, which Evans kicked off by citing US News & World Report‘s assertion that Colorado is the second most dangerous state in the U.S., then quickly pivoted to the Weld County release. Evans also claimed that Colorado is home to Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua’s headquarters, and pointed directly at Polis’s “soft on crime” policies as the reason why.
The three Republican reps cited the Weld County incident repeatedly, with Boebert declaring that “Governor Polis must take immediate action,” before saying “he likely won’t do that.” All three acknowledged what they called “meager” improvements to the crime rate in Colorado and Denver. None of the members represent areas in the metro area.
“We’re just trying to be the voice of reason,” said Crank, who spoke in front of a couple of mounted taxidermied heads of ruminant horned animals. “It’s the soft-on-crime policies in Colorado that cause the increase in crime.”
After the show, Polis’s office released this statement to Westword: “Unfortunately, these Congress members are attempting to distract Coloradans from issues they own, including the special session we just had to hold to eliminate the massive budget hole caused by H.R. 1, kicking people off health care, increasing the federal deficit, the administration’s withholding of public safety money, and now, the looming shutdown of the federal government. Moreover, the Trump administration is withholding a significant amount of Colorado’s federal public safety funding, including funds for emergency management and response, which I hope draws the same outrage from these members of Congress.”
Representative Jeff Hurd, Colorado’s fourth Republican in Congress, did not sign the letter and did not participate in the press conference; he occupies Boebert’s former seat on the Western Slope. His office did not respond to a request for comment on why he did not participate.
