Colorado state senator loses ability to have aides over alleged mistreatment of staffers

State Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis was stripped of legislative aides this week by chamber leaders following new allegations about her treatment and management of staff.

Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, had faced previous allegations of staff mistreatment. She was removed from a bill concerning wage theft protections during the regular legislative session earlier this year after facing allegations that she attempted to withhold pay from a staffer.

She had also faced a reprimand after other staff members and lawmakers “witnessed behavior they found concerning” in her treatment of aides.

In a letter sent Tuesday, outgoing Senate President Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat, said concerns about Jaquez Lewis’ treatment of staff is “now clearly a recurring issue that we have tried to address with you.” President-elect James Coleman and Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, both Denver Democrats returning for the next legislative session in January, co-signed the letter.

“For this reason, in good conscience we cannot support placing an aide in your office while this behavior and complaints continue,” Fenberg wrote. “Effective immediately your aide privileges are suspended.”

They also warned Jaquez Lewis that “it is imperative that you do not engage in any behavior that could be reasonably perceived as retaliatory in nature towards past legislative aides or interns, legislative aides in the building, staff, or Senators.”

The letter did not detail the new allegations. According to the Colorado Sun, which first reported the suspension of her aide privileges, two of her most recent staffers claimed she had them do chores around her house and bartend at a party she hosted.

Jaquez Lewis did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday morning. She was reelected in November.

In general, each senator may employ legislative aides for up 1,800 hours per year. Fenberg and the other legislative leaders’ decision cut that cap to zero for Jaquez Lewis.

Last year, leadership stopped letting her use Senate staff to recruit or vet aides because of concerns about her treatment of prior staffers.

“I don’t want to put caucus staff in a position where they’re recruiting and encouraging someone to work in an office while not being able to disclose to them the concerns that have previously been raised,” Fenberg wrote in September 2023.

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