We won't be silenced.

The Colorado Attorney Regulation Counsel summarily dismissed former Sen. Andy McElhany’s complaint against Chantell Taylor, former director of Colorado Ethics Watch, last week. The attorney regulation counsel required no response from Ms. Taylor to make that determination.

Sen. McElhany had filed a complaint against Ms. Taylor after Ethics Watch asked Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey to investigate whether Sen. McElhany violated state law by using private donations to launch the Senate Minority Office website.

In the letter received by Ms. Taylor, the Assistant Regulation Counsel stated that she “reviewed the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct and discussed [Sen. McElhany’s] assertions with three lawyers assigned to our Central Intake Division of this office, including Chief Deputy Regulation Counsel, Nancy Cohen. Ms. Taylor did not violate any of the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct. Any person can ask a District Attorney’s office to file charges against someone.”

Therefore, she concluded that “we are closing the matter and will take no further action.”

Upon receiving a copy of the letter, Luis Toro, director of Colorado Ethics Watch, said:  “Of course, we knew all along that all Americans have the freedom to ask the authorities to investigate apparent wrongdoing.  Once again, efforts to thwart Ethics Watch’s diligent watchdogging have been defeated.  Baseless attacks and intimidation tactics will continue to be fruitless.  Our commitment to expose unethical behavior and promote accountability in our government remains as strong as ever.”

An earlier complaint against Taylor, filed by Congressman Mike Coffman, was also summarily dismissed in 2009.