Jeff Crank’s Theme: Being What Doug Lamborn Is Not

Here’s how Jeff Crank and Doug Lamborn are alike but different from Bentley Rayburn Jeff Crank and Doug Lamborn are alike in that both of them want to be the long-term 5th Congressional District Congressman.  They both differ from Bentley Rayburn in that Rayburn only wants the job for one term.  Rayburn is going to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and only wants the 5th CD seat as a resume builder. 

Crank’s problem, of course…. ….is that he is so closely associated with those in the El Paso County Republicans who are either corrupt, power-hungry, or both.  That he has support from people like Ed “Cocaine Deal” Jones and Larry “Do Nothing” Liston will count against him amongst those who really know what goes on in the Republican Party.

Answering your questions Cara,

Here are a few way in which Jeff Crank differs from Doug Lamborn:

1) He understands business and has a lot of experience dealing with businesses, both from the Chamber of Commerce job and his own jobs in the private sector.
2) He understands the military
3) He’s not in the pocket of trial lawyers
4) He has an IQ over 100
5) He won’t cheat to win
6) He has more experience in DC, actually getting things done, than Lamborn does.

As far as differences from Bentley Rayburn:

1) He understands business and has a lot of experience dealing with businesses, both from the Chamber of Commerce job and his own jobs in the private sector.
2) Crank is a long-time resident, homeowner, and taxpayer in the 5th CD whereas Rayburn isn’t.
3) Crank generally has more experience in every aspect of government than Rayburn.

I take it that you’re a Republican party insider, right? If you’re not a Republican party insider, just how do you purport to “know what goes on in the Republican Party.”  I’m sure Hillary Clinton has the support of Roger Clinton, a convicted drug felon, and then you can talk about all the Chinese money, etc., etc. etc.  And if you are a Republican, you would realize that in 2008, if Lamborn has the support of the Hotaling Brothers and Chuck Gosnell, that those are the names that in 2008 will count against Doug Lamborn. 

you forgot one: 7) Crank not an idiot.

And what makes you…. ….think I’m not?  Just because I pointed out some truths about the Republican Party in El Paso County?  Heh.  I suspect you just don’t like who’s ox was getting gored.

You made allegations. You didn’t point out truths. Mike Merrifield is as unlikeable a character as there could be, in my book.  But, if he votes with Republicans on an issue, does that make the Republcans as unsavory and unlikeable as he is? I don’t think so. If he votes with the Democrats on an issue, does that make them all as despicable as I personally think he is.  I don’t think so.  Your fallacious argument is that if you don’t like Ed Jones or anyone else, such as Larry Liston, that if they vote for or support Jeff Crank–or Bentley Rayburn–or Doug Lamborn–or you, for that matter–that the person supported is as bad as they are in your eyes. 

For someone complaining about mere allegations…. …you sure seem to use them a lot.  I never said that Crank was as bad a person as Ed “Cocaine Deal” Jones (btw, are you attempting to deny that he witnessed a cocaine deal and did nothing in that bar in the middle of the workday when he was a commissioner?) or any of the others – but that his association with them creates a real problem for him.  Politics IS all about the perception of the voters, whether you like it or not.  Jones, Liston, Gardner, Jack and that whole crowd are widely perceived, IN THE PARTY, to be liars and political tricksters, who will screw anyone, even other party members, to obtain and keep political power for themselves.  If you don’t like that perception, tough noogies.

oops, I guess a 100IQ qualifies

Another difference I think Jeff can spell “dog” and “doug”…

Who are you to label Jones, Gardner, etc.? Do you have any proof of these allegations? They’re truly offensive. You obviously don’t agree with the politics of Ed Jones, Bob Gardner, etc… but oh my, prove the allegations of drugs and dirty politics. Otherwise, can it!

OOooo. Really….. ….touched a BIG nerve there, didn’t I.

Well, let’s just take my primary example – the story about Ed Jones, sitting in a bar, during the workday, when he was an El Paso County Commissioner, and watching a cocaine deal go down is well known.  If you’re ignorant of it, that’s YOUR problem.  But you can find it in the archives of the CS Indy and, if memory serves, it was also reported in the Gazette.  At one time, the Indy even had sound files of the tape recordings made by the DA’s confidential informant inside the bar at the time…with Ed Jones LAUGHING at the deal going down right in front of him….that you could listen to if you chose.

Then there was Larry Liston – who swore up and down that he would remain neutral in the Crank v. Lamborn primary last time out……and then came out and supported Crank.  And that is the LEAST of Liston’s political gameplaying over the years.

Surely, you don’t try to deny any of these FACTS, now do you?  Probably, since youre entire post was nothing but namecalling.

But if you don’t like the FACTS, if you choose to be deliberately ignorant of them, tough noogies.  I’m not here to do your research.  And when it comes to telling the truth, I won’t shut up for anyone, least of all some party hack who can’t stand the truth to be revealed.

So you want “PROOF?” From the CS INDY:

  Portion of an Oct. 6, 2000 conversation between informant Randall Smith and County Commissioner Ed Jones at Leonard’s Bar II. Smith, who was wearing a wire, was being recorded by the Colorado Springs police during an undercover drug buy.

Transcipt:
RANDALL SMITH: Yeah, I’m still on parole for another 30 days or so.
ED JONES: Are you?
SMITH: Yeah. Yeah, I’m not doing any dope or nothing.
JONES: Yeah, that’s good.
SMITH: I’ve got a guy who’s sending some down to the penitentiary.
JONES: Sending dope down? SMITH: His girlfriend smuggles it into the… JONES: Oh, really? SMITH: …visitor room. But I ain’t fucking with it. (pause) JONES: What, what, what’s going on? (unidentified woman speaks inaudibly in background) JONES: (inaudible) (laughs) I know one thing, there’s not a dull moment around here.

CLIP 2
Click here for audio file – Informant Randall Smith talking to police outside the bar after a drug buy that occurred on Oct. 6, 2000 Leonard’s Bar II.

CLIP 3
Click here for audio file- Portion of an Oct. 28, 2002 Independent interview with former Deputy District Attorney Dave Foley.

________________________________________________

County Commissioner Ed Jones, a Republican running for state Senate, watched at least one drug deal go down at a Colorado Springs bar where he was a regular patron, an informer told police two years ago.

“Ed sat right there and saw every bit of it,” the informer, Randall Smith, told police after he allegedly observed the drug deal — in the middle of a business day at Leonard’s Bar II on East Platte Avenue — during an undercover investigation in the fall of 2000. Smith’s remark was recorded on a police surveillance audiotape, a copy of which was obtained by the Independent along with other tapes.

Moreover, the detective in charge of the investigation told prosecutors that Jones had been sitting with him and Smith on at least one occasion when the detective and Smith purchased cocaine openly across the bar, according to former Deputy District Attorney David Foley.

Foley, the lead prosecutor in the case, was concerned enough about the statements that he asked his boss, District Attorney Jeanne Smith, to review the information and determine whether charges should be filed against Jones. However, Foley says there was insufficient evidence to charge Jones.

Jones, who did not return calls seeking comment for this story, has publicly denied knowing anything about drug deals at Leonard’s Bar II.

Right in front of him

As initially reported in the Independent on Oct. 10, Jones — who is in a close state Senate race against Democrat Tony Marino — was a regular patron at Leonard’s Bar II and a close friend of the bar’s owner, Leonard Carlo.

The now-closed notorious bar was littered with prominently displayed signs containing the words “f***” and “c***,” which in 1999 were confiscated by state liquor agents, though Carlo went to court and won his signs back.

A subsequent drug investigation led to 20 criminal charges against Carlo, ranging from robbery to racketeering and drug distribution. However, Carlo pleaded guilty and was convicted of just one count of possessing cocaine. He denies having committed any crimes and accuses police and prosecutors of lying. Several of his bartenders, however, pleaded guilty to selling cocaine.

Police had launched the drug investigation after being tipped off by Randall Smith, a career criminal who was also a longtime friend of Jones. Randall Smith and an undercover detective, Richard “Dusty” DuVall, proceeded to purchase cocaine at the bar on several occasions.

As previously reported, DuVall told the Independent that Jones was in the bar on at least four of those occasions. DuVall declined to speculate publicly on whether Jones knew about the drug deals.

But Foley says DuVall told him Jones must have known.

“He told us that Ed Jones was sitting right there at the bar with him when the transaction took place,” Foley said. “And we asked him if Ed Jones knew what was going on. He said, ‘I don’t know how he could not have known. It was right in front of him.’”

The smell test

Surveillance tapes from the investigation also indicate that on several occasions when Randall Smith and DuVall bought cocaine in the bar, Jones was in close proximity to Randall Smith, who wore a concealed transmitting device. In the audiotapes, Jones can be heard chatting with Randall Smith.

And following one alleged drug transaction, Randall Smith can be heard talking to police after he has left the bar. He describes how bar staff conducted a drug deal “while I was sitting there talking to Ed.”

He continues, “Ed sat right there and saw every bit of it — and says he don’t know what’s going on. Yeah, shit, Ed — you ain’t blind.”

The undercover operation ended abruptly when police raided the bar on Oct. 20, 2000, after Carlo found out Randall Smith was an informer.

Jeanne Smith, the district attorney, spoke with Jones in her office two days after reviewing the surveillance tapes, Foley says. However, Foley says he doesn’t know what the two talked about.

Smith, who has contributed $100 to Jones’ election campaign, did not return phone calls requesting comment for this story. However, in a fax message, she denied having summoned Jones to her office to discuss the drug case.

Foley says he believes his former boss handled the case appropriately, adding that he, Jeanne Smith and another deputy district attorney all felt there was insufficient evidence to charge Jones.

Still, Foley says he doubts Jones’ claims that he had no idea what was going on. “It didn’t pass the smell test. I mean, he’s saying he knew nothing about it, but the detective is telling us he’s sitting right there.”

Silence from the cop

Jeanne Smith rejected a request from the Independent to release surveillance tapes from the investigation, instead referring the request to the Colorado Springs Police Department. Police, in turn, also refused, arguing that the tapes “contain intelligence and security information” and that their release “would be contrary to the public interest.” However, the newspaper was able to obtain the tapes elsewhere.

DuVall also did not respond to numerous requests for comment for this story. After the detective gave an interview for the Independent’s Oct. 10 story, Jones’ campaign manager, attorney Bob Gardner, called top police department officials and demanded an internal-affairs investigation against the detective to find out what he had told the newspaper.

The commander of the Internal Affairs division personally conducted an inquiry and reported his findings directly back to Gardner within two days.

Since then, DuVall has not returned calls from the newspaper.

Colorado Springs City Councilman Charles Wingate said this week that he’s concerned the internal-affairs investigation may have intimidated DuVall. Wingate says he plans to discuss the matter with City Manager Lorne Kramer.

“It’s not the city’s responsibility to protect political candidates of any party,” said Wingate, himself awaiting trial on charges of illegally using a city credit card. The public needs to be assured, Wingate said, “that an elected official is not going to get a pass because they’re an elected official.”

Police Chief Luis Velez, however, rejects the notion that DuVall has been gagged.

“Officers, they become nervous, certainly, when Internal Affairs knocks on their door,” Velez said. However, he added, “I don’t know why Dusty’s not returning your calls. … It’s not because anybody here has told him, ‘You are not to do that.’”

On taxpayers’ time

Meanwhile, Jones’ opponent, Tony Marino, says he’s troubled by the latest information on Jones.

“If this is true, it speaks clearly to Mr. Jones’ character,” said Marino, a former undercover narcotics officer in Utah. “I find it reprehensible that an elected official would sit and watch a felony narcotics transaction go down without notifying somebody.”

And a representative from a county government watchdog group finds it disconcerting that Jones was hanging out in a bar during daytime business hours.

The surveillance tapes indicate that Jones, who is paid $56,600 per year to serve as county commissioner, was at the bar at least twice on weekday afternoons, when drug deals took place.

“That’s inappropriate,” said Jim Alice Scott, of the Committee for Responsible County Government. “I would think [commissioners] would have better things to do on county time.”

A spokeswoman for one of Jones’ biggest backers, Gov. Bill Owens, refused to comment. Owens has reportedly given $20,000 to Jones’ campaign and was, as of press time, scheduled to walk precincts with Jones this weekend.

“Without seeing the information, I won’t comment on it,” said Cinamon Watson, the governor’s campaign spokeswoman.

OH, and let’s not forget Bob Gardner…. ….who was Ed Jones campaign manager, and at least attempted, apparently with some success, to use his political influence on the local police force.  From a news report at the time:

“Consider the recent example, in which attorney and Republican Party activist Bob Gardner demanded an internal affairs investigation last month.

Specifically, Gardner, who was the campaign chairman for County Commissioner Ed Jones’ bid for the state Senate, requested an internal affairs investigation against a detective who had been interviewed by the Independent. Gardner did not like what a CSPD detective had told the newspaper during an interview.

In an equally unusual display of expedience, Cmdr. Ownbey personally conducted an inquiry into Gardner’s complaint and, though internal investigations are supposed to be secret, reported his findings directly back to Gardner — who does not work for the city — within two days.”

And is Bob Gardner a liar? Consider this.. …..from the CS Indy:

Jones’ close and longtime ties to a seedy bar and its owner were explored. Turns out that Jones was present at least four times when undercover police officers bought cocaine inside the small bar, which has subsequently been shut down.

It should be noted that Jones’ former regular hangout was also liberally littered with posters featuring Carlo’s favorite word, “fuck.” Numerous photographs of women were also prominently displayed, describing them as “cunts” if Carlo liked them, or the apparently more derogatory spelling “kunts,” if he did not.

Before the story broke, Jones’ campaign manager and spokesman Bob Gardner attempted to spin the “facts” about Jones’ hangout.

“I’m told the DA [Jeanne Smith] has been there, a deputy DA or two have been there, [City Manager] Lorne Kramer may have been in there; it wasn’t a place that people didn’t go,” said Gardner, adding the disclaimer that he, personally, had never been to Leonard’s bar.

“All I’m saying is it was a place where citizens, and citizens of some prominence and notoriety, sometimes went. It wasn’t the case where Ed Jones was the only person who went there,” Gardner said.

This week, Kramer, the former police chief, was incredulous: “Bob Gardner said that? I have never stepped foot into Leonard’s bar, ever. I wouldn’t even know where it was except for the [police] investigation that was conducted there and quite frankly, I know it’s on Platte [Avenue], but I’m not sure where on Platte it is.”

For the record, Kramer continued, “There are no bars in town that I hang out in.”

Nice – Bob Gardner, in a futile attempt to defend the extraordinary bad behavior of Ed Jones, lies about City Manager and former Police Chief Lorne Kramer. 

So, you want any more PROOF? 

And, just out of curiousity, “Springs Politico,” you ARE Bob Gardner, aren’t you?  Or are you Sarah, just doing his dirty work as usual?

Oh be careful where you imbibe This is not proof of anything. It’s being in the wrong place at the right time.

Oh so so impressed by Charles Wingate as a bad character witness.

But thanks for your research. And, no I didn’t call you names or react as hysterical as your message implies. I do find this interesting. And I still think it was and is overkill.

Otherwise I’m sure I’ll find other things with which I agree with you. Just not this one.

PS Not Bob or Sarah, Bob, Carol, Ted or Alice Sorry, I’m none of the above and not associated.

Research – Jones wasn’t charged with anything Check your records, Ed Jones was never charged with anything in that case. You might as well open the book on Bill Clinton, his brother, cigars and Lewinski, and the land deals in Arkansas.

Goodnight, John.

You asked for proof of my assertions, got it…. ….and now wish simply to dismiss and ignore it all.  Just a suggestion – try pulling your head out of the sand and look at the real world once in awhile.

And the fact that Jeannie Smith didn’t have the guts to charge….. ….Ed Jones doesn’t change anything, by the way.  It’s called “misprison of felony” and is a federal crime.  Jones ought to have been charged and jailed.  But of course, he was protected by his political allies in the DA’s office.  And this wasn’t his first crime – he had multiple, albeit relatively minor, criminal convictions, AND he illegally avoided paying income taxes for about 10 years.  So go ahead and defend him all you want, he is still a criminal slimebag.

And the fact that Crank is closely associated with such people does not make Crank a criminal, but it doesn’t speak well for him, either.

Answering your questions Cara,

Here are a few way in which Jeff Crank differs from Doug Lamborn:

1) He understands business and has a lot of experience dealing with businesses, both from the Chamber of Commerce job and his own jobs in the private sector.

2) He understands the military

3) He's not in the pocket of trial lawyers

4) He has an IQ over 100

5) He won't cheat to win

6) He has more experience in DC, actually getting things done, than Lamborn does.

As far as differences from Bentley Rayburn:

1) He understands business and has a lot of experience dealing with businesses, both from the Chamber of Commerce job and his own jobs in the private sector.

2) Crank is a long-time resident, homeowner, and taxpayer in the 5th CD whereas Rayburn isn't.

3) Crank generally has more experience in every aspect of government than Rayburn.

Crank's problem, of course…. ….is that he is so closely associated with those in the El Paso County Republicans who are either corrupt, power-hungry, or both.  That he has support from people like Ed “Cocaine Deal” Jones and Larry “Do Nothing” Liston will count against him amongst those who really know what goes on in the Republican Party.

Here's how Jeff Crank and Doug Lamborn are alike but different from Bentley Rayburn Jeff Crank and Doug Lamborn are alike in that both of them want to be the long-term 5th Congressional District Congressman.  They both differ from Bentley Rayburn in that Rayburn only wants the job for one term.  Rayburn is going to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and only wants the 5th CD seat as a resume builder. 

I take it that you're a Republican party insider, right? If you're not a Republican party insider, just how do you purport to “know what goes on in the Republican Party.”  I'm sure Hillary Clinton has the support of Roger Clinton, a convicted drug felon, and then you can talk about all the Chinese money, etc., etc. etc.  And if you are a Republican, you would realize that in 2008, if Lamborn has the support of the Hotaling Brothers and Chuck Gosnell, that those are the names that in 2008 will count against Doug Lamborn. 

you forgot one: 7) Crank not an idiot.

And what makes you…. ….think I'm not?  Just because I pointed out some truths about the Republican Party in El Paso County?  Heh.  I suspect you just don't like who's ox was getting gored.

You made allegations. You didn't point out truths. Mike Merrifield is as unlikeable a character as there could be, in my book.  But, if he votes with Republicans on an issue, does that make the Republcans as unsavory and unlikeable as he is? I don't think so. If he votes with the Democrats on an issue, does that make them all as despicable as I personally think he is.  I don't think so.  Your fallacious argument is that if you don't like Ed Jones or anyone else, such as Larry Liston, that if they vote for or support Jeff Crank–or Bentley Rayburn–or Doug Lamborn–or you, for that matter–that the person supported is as bad as they are in your eyes. 

For someone complaining about mere allegations…. …you sure seem to use them a lot.  I never said that Crank was as bad a person as Ed “Cocaine Deal” Jones (btw, are you attempting to deny that he witnessed a cocaine deal and did nothing in that bar in the middle of the workday when he was a commissioner?) or any of the others – but that his association with them creates a real problem for him.  Politics IS all about the perception of the voters, whether you like it or not.  Jones, Liston, Gardner, Jack and that whole crowd are widely perceived, IN THE PARTY, to be liars and political tricksters, who will screw anyone, even other party members, to obtain and keep political power for themselves.  If you don't like that perception, tough noogies.

oops, I guess a 100IQ qualifies

Another difference I think Jeff can spell “dog” and “doug”…

Who are you to label Jones, Gardner, etc.? Do you have any proof of these allegations? They're truly offensive. You obviously don't agree with the politics of Ed Jones, Bob Gardner, etc… but oh my, prove the allegations of drugs and dirty politics. Otherwise, can it!

OOooo. Really….. ….touched a BIG nerve there, didn't I.

Well, let's just take my primary example – the story about Ed Jones, sitting in a bar, during the workday, when he was an El Paso County Commissioner, and watching a cocaine deal go down is well known.  If you're ignorant of it, that's YOUR problem.  But you can find it in the archives of the CS Indy and, if memory serves, it was also reported in the Gazette.  At one time, the Indy even had sound files of the tape recordings made by the DA's confidential informant inside the bar at the time…with Ed Jones LAUGHING at the deal going down right in front of him….that you could listen to if you chose.

Then there was Larry Liston – who swore up and down that he would remain neutral in the Crank v. Lamborn primary last time out……and then came out and supported Crank.  And that is the LEAST of Liston's political gameplaying over the years.

Surely, you don't try to deny any of these FACTS, now do you?  Probably, since youre entire post was nothing but namecalling.

But if you don't like the FACTS, if you choose to be deliberately ignorant of them, tough noogies.  I'm not here to do your research.  And when it comes to telling the truth, I won't shut up for anyone, least of all some party hack who can't stand the truth to be revealed.

So you want “PROOF?” From the CS INDY:

  Portion of an Oct. 6, 2000 conversation between informant Randall Smith and County Commissioner Ed Jones at Leonard's Bar II. Smith, who was wearing a wire, was being recorded by the Colorado Springs police during an undercover drug buy.

Transcipt:

RANDALL SMITH: Yeah, I'm still on parole for another 30 days or so.

ED JONES: Are you?

SMITH: Yeah. Yeah, I'm not doing any dope or nothing.

JONES: Yeah, that's good.

SMITH: I've got a guy who's sending some down to the penitentiary.

JONES: Sending dope down? SMITH: His girlfriend smuggles it into the… JONES: Oh, really? SMITH: …visitor room. But I ain't fucking with it. (pause) JONES: What, what, what's going on? (unidentified woman speaks inaudibly in background) JONES: (inaudible) (laughs) I know one thing, there's not a dull moment around here.

CLIP 2

Click here for audio file – Informant Randall Smith talking to police outside the bar after a drug buy that occurred on Oct. 6, 2000 Leonard's Bar II.

CLIP 3

Click here for audio file- Portion of an Oct. 28, 2002 Independent interview with former Deputy District Attorney Dave Foley.

________________________________________________

County Commissioner Ed Jones, a Republican running for state Senate, watched at least one drug deal go down at a Colorado Springs bar where he was a regular patron, an informer told police two years ago.

“Ed sat right there and saw every bit of it,” the informer, Randall Smith, told police after he allegedly observed the drug deal — in the middle of a business day at Leonard's Bar II on East Platte Avenue — during an undercover investigation in the fall of 2000. Smith's remark was recorded on a police surveillance audiotape, a copy of which was obtained by the Independent along with other tapes.

Moreover, the detective in charge of the investigation told prosecutors that Jones had been sitting with him and Smith on at least one occasion when the detective and Smith purchased cocaine openly across the bar, according to former Deputy District Attorney David Foley.

Foley, the lead prosecutor in the case, was concerned enough about the statements that he asked his boss, District Attorney Jeanne Smith, to review the information and determine whether charges should be filed against Jones. However, Foley says there was insufficient evidence to charge Jones.

Jones, who did not return calls seeking comment for this story, has publicly denied knowing anything about drug deals at Leonard's Bar II.

Right in front of him

As initially reported in the Independent on Oct. 10, Jones — who is in a close state Senate race against Democrat Tony Marino — was a regular patron at Leonard's Bar II and a close friend of the bar's owner, Leonard Carlo.

The now-closed notorious bar was littered with prominently displayed signs containing the words “f***” and “c***,” which in 1999 were confiscated by state liquor agents, though Carlo went to court and won his signs back.

A subsequent drug investigation led to 20 criminal charges against Carlo, ranging from robbery to racketeering and drug distribution. However, Carlo pleaded guilty and was convicted of just one count of possessing cocaine. He denies having committed any crimes and accuses police and prosecutors of lying. Several of his bartenders, however, pleaded guilty to selling cocaine.

Police had launched the drug investigation after being tipped off by Randall Smith, a career criminal who was also a longtime friend of Jones. Randall Smith and an undercover detective, Richard “Dusty” DuVall, proceeded to purchase cocaine at the bar on several occasions.

As previously reported, DuVall told the Independent that Jones was in the bar on at least four of those occasions. DuVall declined to speculate publicly on whether Jones knew about the drug deals.

But Foley says DuVall told him Jones must have known.

“He told us that Ed Jones was sitting right there at the bar with him when the transaction took place,” Foley said. “And we asked him if Ed Jones knew what was going on. He said, 'I don't know how he could not have known. It was right in front of him.'”

The smell test

Surveillance tapes from the investigation also indicate that on several occasions when Randall Smith and DuVall bought cocaine in the bar, Jones was in close proximity to Randall Smith, who wore a concealed transmitting device. In the audiotapes, Jones can be heard chatting with Randall Smith.

And following one alleged drug transaction, Randall Smith can be heard talking to police after he has left the bar. He describes how bar staff conducted a drug deal “while I was sitting there talking to Ed.”

He continues, “Ed sat right there and saw every bit of it — and says he don't know what's going on. Yeah, shit, Ed — you ain't blind.”

The undercover operation ended abruptly when police raided the bar on Oct. 20, 2000, after Carlo found out Randall Smith was an informer.

Jeanne Smith, the district attorney, spoke with Jones in her office two days after reviewing the surveillance tapes, Foley says. However, Foley says he doesn't know what the two talked about.

Smith, who has contributed $100 to Jones' election campaign, did not return phone calls requesting comment for this story. However, in a fax message, she denied having summoned Jones to her office to discuss the drug case.

Foley says he believes his former boss handled the case appropriately, adding that he, Jeanne Smith and another deputy district attorney all felt there was insufficient evidence to charge Jones.

Still, Foley says he doubts Jones' claims that he had no idea what was going on. “It didn't pass the smell test. I mean, he's saying he knew nothing about it, but the detective is telling us he's sitting right there.”

Silence from the cop

Jeanne Smith rejected a request from the Independent to release surveillance tapes from the investigation, instead referring the request to the Colorado Springs Police Department. Police, in turn, also refused, arguing that the tapes “contain intelligence and security information” and that their release “would be contrary to the public interest.” However, the newspaper was able to obtain the tapes elsewhere.

DuVall also did not respond to numerous requests for comment for this story. After the detective gave an interview for the Independent's Oct. 10 story, Jones' campaign manager, attorney Bob Gardner, called top police department officials and demanded an internal-affairs investigation against the detective to find out what he had told the newspaper.

The commander of the Internal Affairs division personally conducted an inquiry and reported his findings directly back to Gardner within two days.

Since then, DuVall has not returned calls from the newspaper.

Colorado Springs City Councilman Charles Wingate said this week that he's concerned the internal-affairs investigation may have intimidated DuVall. Wingate says he plans to discuss the matter with City Manager Lorne Kramer.

“It's not the city's responsibility to protect political candidates of any party,” said Wingate, himself awaiting trial on charges of illegally using a city credit card. The public needs to be assured, Wingate said, “that an elected official is not going to get a pass because they're an elected official.”

Police Chief Luis Velez, however, rejects the notion that DuVall has been gagged.

“Officers, they become nervous, certainly, when Internal Affairs knocks on their door,” Velez said. However, he added, “I don't know why Dusty's not returning your calls. … It's not because anybody here has told him, 'You are not to do that.'”

On taxpayers' time

Meanwhile, Jones' opponent, Tony Marino, says he's troubled by the latest information on Jones.

“If this is true, it speaks clearly to Mr. Jones' character,” said Marino, a former undercover narcotics officer in Utah. “I find it reprehensible that an elected official would sit and watch a felony narcotics transaction go down without notifying somebody.”

And a representative from a county government watchdog group finds it disconcerting that Jones was hanging out in a bar during daytime business hours.

The surveillance tapes indicate that Jones, who is paid $56,600 per year to serve as county commissioner, was at the bar at least twice on weekday afternoons, when drug deals took place.

“That's inappropriate,” said Jim Alice Scott, of the Committee for Responsible County Government. “I would think [commissioners] would have better things to do on county time.”

A spokeswoman for one of Jones' biggest backers, Gov. Bill Owens, refused to comment. Owens has reportedly given $20,000 to Jones' campaign and was, as of press time, scheduled to walk precincts with Jones this weekend.

“Without seeing the information, I won't comment on it,” said Cinamon Watson, the governor's campaign spokeswoman.

OH, and let's not forget Bob Gardner…. ….who was Ed Jones campaign manager, and at least attempted, apparently with some success, to use his political influence on the local police force.  From a news report at the time:

“Consider the recent example, in which attorney and Republican Party activist Bob Gardner demanded an internal affairs investigation last month.

Specifically, Gardner, who was the campaign chairman for County Commissioner Ed Jones' bid for the state Senate, requested an internal affairs investigation against a detective who had been interviewed by the Independent. Gardner did not like what a CSPD detective had told the newspaper during an interview.

In an equally unusual display of expedience, Cmdr. Ownbey personally conducted an inquiry into Gardner's complaint and, though internal investigations are supposed to be secret, reported his findings directly back to Gardner — who does not work for the city — within two days.”

And is Bob Gardner a liar? Consider this.. …..from the CS Indy:

Jones' close and longtime ties to a seedy bar and its owner were explored. Turns out that Jones was present at least four times when undercover police officers bought cocaine inside the small bar, which has subsequently been shut down.

It should be noted that Jones' former regular hangout was also liberally littered with posters featuring Carlo's favorite word, “fuck.” Numerous photographs of women were also prominently displayed, describing them as “cunts” if Carlo liked them, or the apparently more derogatory spelling “kunts,” if he did not.

Before the story broke, Jones' campaign manager and spokesman Bob Gardner attempted to spin the “facts” about Jones' hangout.

“I'm told the DA [Jeanne Smith] has been there, a deputy DA or two have been there, [City Manager] Lorne Kramer may have been in there; it wasn't a place that people didn't go,” said Gardner, adding the disclaimer that he, personally, had never been to Leonard's bar.

“All I'm saying is it was a place where citizens, and citizens of some prominence and notoriety, sometimes went. It wasn't the case where Ed Jones was the only person who went there,” Gardner said.

This week, Kramer, the former police chief, was incredulous: “Bob Gardner said that? I have never stepped foot into Leonard's bar, ever. I wouldn't even know where it was except for the [police] investigation that was conducted there and quite frankly, I know it's on Platte [Avenue], but I'm not sure where on Platte it is.”

For the record, Kramer continued, “There are no bars in town that I hang out in.”

Nice – Bob Gardner, in a futile attempt to defend the extraordinary bad behavior of Ed Jones, lies about City Manager and former Police Chief Lorne Kramer. 

So, you want any more PROOF? 

And, just out of curiousity, “Springs Politico,” you ARE Bob Gardner, aren't you?  Or are you Sarah, just doing his dirty work as usual?

Oh be careful where you imbibe This is not proof of anything. It's being in the wrong place at the right time.

Oh so so impressed by Charles Wingate as a bad character witness.

But thanks for your research. And, no I didn't call you names or react as hysterical as your message implies. I do find this interesting. And I still think it was and is overkill.

Otherwise I'm sure I'll find other things with which I agree with you. Just not this one.

PS Not Bob or Sarah, Bob, Carol, Ted or Alice Sorry, I'm none of the above and not associated.

Research – Jones wasn't charged with anything Check your records, Ed Jones was never charged with anything in that case. You might as well open the book on Bill Clinton, his brother, cigars and Lewinski, and the land deals in Arkansas.

Goodnight, John.

You asked for proof of my assertions, got it…. ….and now wish simply to dismiss and ignore it all.  Just a suggestion – try pulling your head out of the sand and look at the real world once in awhile.

And the fact that Jeannie Smith didn't have the guts to charge….. ….Ed Jones doesn't change anything, by the way.  It's called “misprison of felony” and is a federal crime.  Jones ought to have been charged and jailed.  But of course, he was protected by his political allies in the DA's office.  And this wasn't his first crime – he had multiple, albeit relatively minor, criminal convictions, AND he illegally avoided paying income taxes for about 10 years.  So go ahead and defend him all you want, he is still a criminal slimebag.

And the fact that Crank is closely associated with such people does not make Crank a criminal, but it doesn't speak well for him, either.