Rep. Laura Bradford Will Not Switch Parties After Ethics Committee Finds No Evidence Of Wrongdoing In DUI Snafu

State Rep. Laura Bradford has had a rough couple weeks, but after an ethics committee cleared her name today, she's undoubtedly a bit more chipper than usual. Indeed, happy enough to forget last week's threats of leaving the GOP, thereby upending her party's slender Colorado House majority.

In late January, Bradford was pulled over by Denver police for erratic driving and accused of invoking legislative immunity to avoid a DUI. Following muddied reports of her alleged "get out of jail free" card, Bradford was suspended from her post on the local government committee and faced an ethics committee investigation.

Angered by Colorado House Speaker Frank McNulty's decision for an ethics investigation, Bradford indicated last week she was considering leaving the Republican Party. "I'm frustrated by the lack of the support, not just over the last five days but during last session, too," she told the Denver Post at the time.

"There's no need for me to resign. I'm not resigning. I'm here to do the people's work," Bradford told 9NEWS last week. "I'm going to vigorously fight the Ethics Committee's actions to reach a conclusion of complete and total vindication and exoneration."

At the conclusion of the ethics investigation Friday, legislators found there "clearly" was no evidence Rep. Bradford did anything wrong, reports the Grand Junction Sentinel. She will also be reinstated as chair of the local government committee.

Rep. Bradford also will not face charges for having a firearm in her vehicle at the time of the incident. Having a firearm while intoxicated is a misdemeanor in Colorado, though the Denver DA decided this week not to pursue charges due to a lack of evidence.

Reacting to the news, the AP's Kristen Wyatt hilariously tweeted:

@APkristenwyatt
Kristen Wyatt

Who's taking Bradford out tonight to celebrate? ... What, too soon? #coleg

February 10, 2012 5:53 pm via web Reply Retweet Favorite

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[Wheresmypants]

01:26 PM on 02/13/2012

If you vote for her, you are the problem.

[MMSpooner]

01:33 AM on 02/13/2012

If she wanted to be treated like an ordinary citizen then she should do the proper thing - turn herself in and willingly submit to censure by the house without all of this "threatening to leave the GOP" nonsense.

That's what a RESPONSIBLE member of congress should do. C'mon Bradford - show them how this is done.

She played political chicken with the GOP and she didn't even have to flinch. Full reinstatement of all privileges and just pretend nothing happened? Laws are there for a reason Laura.

[kckitty43]

03:01 PM on 02/11/2012

what a surprise ,can you say blackmail.

[Lwayno]

01:16 PM on 02/11/2012

I am not a drunk, Why, I don't even know what a drunk looks like! Tricky Dicky

[Lwayno]

12:48 PM on 02/11/2012

She threatens to join the Democrats and the REPUBS cave in!

[Lwayno]

12:56 PM on 02/11/2012

Laura Bradford "I am not a drunk! Why, I don't even know what a drunk looks like"
p.s. I approve this message, Richard Nixon

[Tmus82]

11:35 PM on 02/10/2012

Wow wish i could drive drunk and get away with it... Oh wait no I don't. Way to abuse your power Bradford.

[Sandy C]

11:13 PM on 02/10/2012

and she thought the DemocratIC Party would embrasse her if she left the GOP? Ahhh, NO!!

[shylove2]

07:57 PM on 02/10/2012

It hsn't rattled her enough to realize people can be stopped for no reason but it is drinking hour and you are downtown and there can be any excuse. Then the roadside test is rather subjective and when they realize you could have power refuse the test that would prove you aren't over limit then the imlication sticks too you and will be attacked to you for the rest of your life. . In other words being accused of something without proof and getting off in court can ruin you just as easily as being guilty of something... People without power know this, it happens all the time but usually they are forced into plea bargaining anyway.

[Cat-Lover]

07:22 PM on 02/10/2012

She was a hazard to everyone. She was driving drunk with a pistol at hand
Guns and drugs; guns and alcohol. She was a hazard to everyone.

[nick keopke]

06:43 PM on 02/10/2012

What about the DUI charges? She should still have to pay for that just like the rest of us. Get put on probation, have to go to meetings, pay fines and lose her license.