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EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Update 10:20 p.m. The following statement was sent out on behalf of Sen. Pete Lee:

Today the Republican El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen charged Senator Pete Lee with what he claims is voting on one occasion, over 2 years ago, in a district where he did not reside. There are no allegations that Senator Lee submitted two ballots in a single election. Senator Lee has an impeccable record as a state legislator representing the citizens of District 11 and is proud to have voted on ballots appropriately obtained in order to exercise the sacred duty and honor of casting his
ballot on issues of importance.

Senator Lee places great value in the trust that Colorado voters give to their elected officials. He has worked tirelessly to propose and pass criminal justice policies to benefit the citizens of his district and the State, often despite vocal opposition by those who oppose any reform.

At a time when the public expresses concern about an increase in violent crime, along with a drug abuse epidemic, it is disappointing that this District Attorney expends precious resources, deploys investigators, detectives and assigns prosecutors to search for a complaint against Senator Lee.

The charge will be vigorously challenged.

David S. Kaplan, Stimson LaBranche Hubbard, LLC

Original: A grand jury in El Paso County has returned an indictment against a Democratic Colorado state senator, accusing him of lying about his residence.

According to a press release from the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, state Sen. Pete Lee, whose legal name is Sanford Edmund Lee, was indicted on a count of providing false information on his residence. It’s a class 5 felony under Colorado law.

Lee is the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and represents El Paso County. He will be in court for the charge on Sept. 8.

FOX31 has requested a copy of the indictment from the 4th Judicial District and asked about the circumstances surrounding the charge for more context.

FOX31 is also reaching out to Lee for comment and will update this story with his perspective.

Several Colorado Democrats are already flocking to Lee’s defense after news of the indictment broke Tuesday.

“Senator Pete Lee is a dedicated public servant who has spent his career supporting his community and working to improve the lives of all Coloradans. I trust he’ll have a fair opportunity to be heard and that the legal process will allow for an airing of all of the facts. At his request, Senator Lee has been removed from his interim committee assignments until this matter is resolved.”

Senate President Steve Fenberg

State Rep. Matt Gray, who was charged in April with a DUI, chimed in on Twitter, saying “Pete Lee is a man of character, kindness and dignity. Joking around with the criminal justice system is cruel, wasteful and wrong.”