Reporting on accusations that Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Congrove “broke the law by investigating county employees and private citizens,” a February 16 Rocky Mountain News article failed to identify Congrove as an elected Republican officeholder. The News has made this same type of omission in past coverage regarding not only Congrove, but also a former Jefferson County treasurer and the district attorney for Colorado's 18th Judicial District, both Republican elected officials accused of or censured for wrongdoing.

The February 16 News article reported that the watchdog group Colorado Citizens for Ethics in Government “has asked District Attorney Scott Storey and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to 'launch an immediate investigation' into the use of taxpayer money for the employee investigations.” The News quoted the watchdog group's director:

“I have not found any legitimate reason authorized by law for conducting these investigations,” said Chantell Taylor, director of the citizens group.

“Using taxpayer dollars to pursue personal vendettas is a serious crime and an egregious abuse of the public trust,” Taylor said. “Law enforcement officials should immediately investigate whether these or other Jefferson County officials misused public funds.”

According to Jefferson County's website, “Congrove was elected Jefferson County Commissioner in November 2004 and represents District 1 in the northern part of the county.” The county's alphabetical listing of all county commissioners, past and current, indicates Congrove is a Republican. The Jefferson County Republican Party also lists Congrove on its website.

As Colorado Media Matters previously has noted (here, here, here, and here), since October 2006 the News has reported on three elected officials accused of malfeasance -- Congrove, former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall, and 18th Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers -- without noting their affiliations with the Republican Party.

From the February 16 Rocky Mountain News article by Charley Able, “Jeffco Commissioner snooping probe requested”:

A nonprofit watchdog group wants a criminal investigation to determine whether Jefferson County Commissioner Jim Congrove and former County Attorney Frank Hutfless broke the law by investigating county employees and private citizens.

The group, Colorado Citizens for Ethics in Government, announced Thursday it has asked District Attorney Scott Storey and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to “launch an immediate investigation” into the use of taxpayer money for the employee investigations.

“I have not found any legitimate reason authorized by law for conducting these investigations,” said Chantell Taylor, director of the citizens group.

“Using taxpayer dollars to pursue personal vendettas is a serious crime and an egregious abuse of the public trust,” Taylor said. “Law enforcement officials should immediately investigate whether these or other Jefferson County officials misused public funds.”

The announcement follows a Rocky Mountain News report quoting former Commissioner Dave Auburn as saying Congrove initiated the investigations. Auburn also said Congrove had current and former county employees, including Hutfless, investigated.

Hutfless has said Congrove wanted his friend, private investigator Darill Cinquanta, hired to conduct the inquiries.

[...]

Among those investigated were parties, including the plaintiffs' attorney, in a civil rights lawsuit filed against Congrove and the county.

Congrove has said the attorney, Chris Paulsen, was investigated only to get information about his legal expertise.

Invoices submitted to the county indicate Paulsen was tailed and watched by Cinquanta's firm, but give no indication that Paulsen's legal experience ever was the subject of investigation.