Controversial Republican Fundraiser Closed To Media

A Larimer County Republican Party fundraiser to pay off a campaign finance fine will be held in a private location.

The Fort Collins Coloradoan reported that the Sept. 22 event will also be closed to the media following controversy about the attendance of Secretary of State Scott Gessler.

Gessler will sit in a dunking tank at the fundraiser to let fellow Republicans angry over the fine dump him in the

water to pay it off.
Gessler spokesman Richard Coolidge says the secretary of state's participation in the fundraiser is appropriate and aimed at helping local GOP officials relieve their frustration over paying "the largest fine ever imposed in our office's history."

The Secretary of State's Office initially fined the Larimer County Republican Party $48,700 for failing to file campaign finance reports in 2010. However, Gessler's office later determined the county GOP was merely negligent in not filing the reports and reduced the fine to $15,708, according to the Denver Post.

Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Rick Palacio called Gessler's involvement in the fundraiser "a gross conflict of interest."

Government watchdog groups echoed that criticism.

In an email to party members, county GOP Chairman Tom Lucero said he originally planned a more public event. However, he said he changed the venue because the media's "unrelenting desire to malign Republicans" had turned the event into a circus.