July 13, 2010 09:37 PM UTC

Speaker Carroll: McInnis Must Withdraw

•  
• by: Colorado Pols

In a press release delivered a few minutes ago, Colorado Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll became the first high-profile elected official to call for GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis to withdraw from the race, in the wake of revelations of widespread plagiarism in water history essays he wrote for the Hasan Foundation. We’re watching for this call to be joined by a multitude of others, possibly from both parties, shortly.

Full release after the jump: says Speaker Carroll, “Whether he plagiarized a Colorado Supreme Court Justice intentionally or paid someone to do so it doesn’t matter: he took sole credit for the work and he is solely to blame. I am appalled at this cynical act of dishonesty. Coloradans deserve honesty and integrity from their leaders. They deserve transparency and accountability from their government. Coloradans deserve better than Scott McInnis.”

Speaker Terrance Carroll Demands McInnis Withdraw Immediately

Plagiarism revelations raise fundamental questions about McInnis’ fitness to serve

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday July 13, 2010

CONTACT: Ellen Dumm, 303 810-4370, ellen@strongcolorado.org

DENVER: Speaker of the Colorado House Terrance Carroll today called for  former congressman Scott McInnis to immediately withdraw as a candidate for governor, following revelations that McInnis plagiarized significant portions of articles he authored on Colorado water.

Speaker Terrance Carroll will hold a press availability today, July 13 from 1:45 to 2:00 p.m. in the courtyard of The Tabor Center, Northwest corner of 17th and Larimer.

“The Denver Post’s story made it quite clear that Scott McInnis lacks the integrity to hold the office of Governor. It would be difficult for him to create any public trust, which is critical for this position,” said Speaker Carroll.

McInnis was paid $300,000 over two years to write 12 articles for the Hasan Family Foundation. The Denver post article showed large portions of text identical or nearly to an article written by Colorado Supreme Court Justice Greg Hobbs.

“Whether he plagiarized a Colorado Supreme Court Justice intentionally or paid someone to do so it doesn’t matter: he took sole credit for the work and he is solely to blame. I am appalled at this cynical act of dishonesty.”

“Coloradans deserve honesty and integrity from their leaders. They deserve transparency and accountability from their government. Coloradans deserve better than Scott McInnis. The right thing for McInnis would be to withdraw from this race. Can Coloradans trust McInnis? I don’t think so. How can he serve as a role model after having committed an offense we tell our kids they can never, ever commit in school or in their profession,” said Carroll.

###