Colorado GOP censures state Sen. Larry Liston for pursuing a criminal complaint against local party official

The Colorado Republican Party has censured state Sen. Larry Liston for his handling of a criminal complaint against a local party official.

According to the party's executive committee, Liston pursued an "unwarranted" and "inappropriate" criminal complaint against Rex Tonkins, the husband of El Paso County GOP Chairwoman Vickie Tonkins.

The incident in question allegedly occurred at a party meeting at a church on December 6th, 2021.

Tonkins was accused of "chest-bumping" Liston, an allegation he denied. After a one-day jury trial, Tonkins was found not guilty of misdemeanor harassment charges in August of this year.

As part of the censure resolution, the state GOP also issued an apology to Tonkins, acknowledging the harm and financial burden he faced due to Liston's actions.

In addition to the censure, state GOP Chairman Dave Williams plans to ask Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade to investigate whether Liston exerted improper influence on the city's police chief to reopen the case.

Williams also plans to inform Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign about the censure, as Liston had recently endorsed DeSantis over former President Donald Trump in next year's primary.

Liston, a veteran Colorado Springs Republican legislator, expressed disappointment over the censure, stating that as a loyal Republican for 43 years, he is "pretty chagrined" to have been censured by "people who were not even at the event - and under false pretenses."

Liston maintains that Tonkins confronted him and other elected officials in an aggressive manner at the end of the meeting, and that he only responded in self-defense.

However, a jury ultimately disagreed, prompting state GOP executive committee member Brad Collins to propose the censure. Collins accused Liston of abusing his power and using the criminal complaint to harm a private citizen who had expressed concerns over Liston's voting record.

This recent censure is one of several such unprecedented actions taken under the current leadership of chairman Dave Williams against Colorado Republicans.