On Thursday “Coloradans for Justice”, the new front for the “Trailhead Group,” the 527 political committee formed by Governor Owens, Pete Coors and Bruce Benson, began running a television attack ad smearing former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter.
Under Colorado law it's illegal to “broadcast” any “false statement designed to affect the vote” relating to “any candidate for election to public office.” (CRS 1-13-109)
The Denver Sherriff’s Department as well as KCNC, the Denver Post, and the Rocky Mountain News all have verified that this ad contains a false statement.
The ad involves a woman who's daughter was killed by a drunk driver six years ago. The driver, Sheila Towns, served a total of 15 months, as well as additional years in residential treatment. (KCNC, 9/21/2006; DP, 9/22/2006; RMN, 9/23/2006)
But the ad states: “For killing a four year old child, Towns served 8 months.”
We demand that the Denver stations immediately stop broadcasting this false ad that shamelessly uses the tragedy of a mother and appears to violate Colorado law.
