February 08, 2007 04:50 PM UTC

Even More Jeffco Intrigue

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• by: Colorado Pols

It’s getting downright Shakespearean at the Taj Mahal, as the Rocky Mountain News reports. First it was former Republican Treasurer Mark Paschall being indicted for soliciting a kickback, and now Republican Jim Congrove is being accused of conducting secret investigations:

Commissioner Jim Congrove ordered investigations of current and former county employees, private citizens, fellow elected officials and an attorney involved in a federal lawsuit against him, according to one of those targeted.

At least some of the investigations were paid for by taxpayers and conducted by Congrove’s longtime friend, Daril Cinquanta, a former Denver police officer used by the county on Congrove’s recommendation.

The investigations ended last spring when Congrove’s fellow Jefferson County commissioners, Dave Auburn and Kevin McCasky, ordered them halted.

Auburn accused Congrove of creating “an environment of fear,” and said Congrove also recruited county employees into a network of informants.

“He was investigating everybody,” Auburn, who left office in January, said this week. “I’m told he was investigating Kevin and me. He told me himself he was investigating (county attorney) Frank (Hutfless) and (county administrator) Jim Moore.”