Colorado senator violated ethics policy with intoxicated meeting appearance, panel rules

DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Senate Committee on Ethics ruled Monday that Sen. Faith Winter violated the Senate’s rules of ethics by appearing intoxicated at a constituent meeting in April.

The five-person panel ruled in a 4-1 vote that Winter, a Democrat who represents portions of Adams, Broomfield and Weld Counties, did not uphold the public’s trust by drinking alcohol before appearing at an April community meeting in Northglenn.

The testy meeting was to discuss a mental health transitional living facility where sex offenders were poised to be living close to an elementary school.

Winter arrived late and appeared disoriented when told she was a panel member and stumbled in her speech during responses to the community. She said after the meeting that she was seeking alcoholism treatment, and apologized for her conduct in a written statement to The Colorado Sun in April.

“I deeply regret my behavior last night,” Winter said in a written statement. “I made a mistake and I’m truly sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort I caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am committed to making things right. I especially apologize to the city of Northglenn and the citizens that came out — I deeply care about your thoughts and community. I am now under the care of medical professionals and receiving treatment for my substance abuse disorder.”

In Monday’s ethics committee meeting, only Sen. James Coleman voted against the ethics violation. After finding that Winter had violated the ethics rules, the committee made several recommendations.

The first recommendation was to issue a letter to Winter about her conduct at the Northglenn meeting and substance use. She will also be invited to speak before the full Senate when the legislative session reconvenes in January 2025, where she will be allowed to apologize.

The group also recommended that should her actions become concerning again, she will face immediate action from the full Senate, and not from an ethics committee.

Earlier this year, Winter voluntarily stepped down as chair of the Transportation and Energy committee to “focus on my health.” On May 1, she sent a letter to Northglenn City Council asking for empathy, but saying she understood that the way she appeared was “inappropriate and hard for those in attendance.”

“That night led me to seek treatment for substance abuse disorder, which was difficult, especially with the eyes of the world watching, but I’m glad I did,” Winter wrote to the Northglenn governance. “If my pain and the stigma I faced publicly even helped one person seek treatment and find peace, then I can find peace myself.”

Winter assumed office on Jan. 9, 2023, and her current term lasts through Jan. 12, 2027.

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