DENVER –State Rep. Steve Lebsock said he is “sincerely sorry for offending” his colleague Faith Winter in a statement released Friday night.
Nine legislators, staffers and lobbyists alleged Lebsock, D-Thornton, harassed, intimidated or made unwanted sexual advances against them.
KUNC was first to report the allegations on Friday morning.
Rep. Faith Winter told FOX31 in an interview that Lebsock “discovered that my husband was out of town” and used the opportunity to try and take advantage following an end of session party in 2016.
“He repeatedly told me to go somewhere with him, he used explicit language describing different sexual acts we could do to each other and I told him no,” Winter said.
“I do not remember ever saying anything inappropriate to State Representative Faith Winter on the last day of session in May of 2016,” Lebsock’s statement said.”
Read Lebsock’s full statement here.
Winter said she came forward now because she heard of another incident.
“I came forward because I heard about another incident and my goal all along was to have the behavior stop,” Winter said.
Sources say Lebsock has told colleagues he didn’t recall the episode described by Winter.
Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran said the sexual misconduct allegations against Lebsock, who is running for state treasurer, are “deeply disturbing” and called for his resignation.
“I believe there should be extremely high standards of conduct for the legislature, and I take any allegations of sexual assault and harassment very seriously,” Duran said in a statement.
“I would expect that Representative Lebsock would consider the impact of his actions on his colleagues and the public confidence in our institution, and do the right thing and resign. There is no place for those types of actions at the legislature.”
Duran said there would be full investigations into the report.
Other prominent Democrats calling for his resignation include the Lt. Governor, the Senate Minority Leader, and Chairwoman of the Democratic Party.
“I have worked my entire adult life protecting women, children and the most vulnerable. I will continue fighting for working class families and people without a voice at the capitol,” Lebsock’s statement said.
Watch full Facebook live interview with Winter here: