DENVER, CO — Colorado gubernatorial candidate Michael Bennet announced today that as Governor, he is committing to levy a 100% Colorado tax on any payouts distributed to convicted election denier Tina Peters or other recipients in Colorado to combat Donald Trump’s blatantly corrupt and illegal $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded “Anti-Weaponization Fund.”
Michael is leveraging every option to stop the fund. He will: launch an investigation to expose its illegality, eliminate it through federal legislation, and, if necessary, levy a 100% Colorado tax on any payouts distributed in the state.
“Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund is an illegal abuse of taxpayer dollars,” said Michael. “It’s corrupt. It’s outrageous, and I’ll do everything I can to shut it down. This is your money, and if they try to pay out Trump loyalists in Colorado? I say we tax every penny of it. Yes, including election denier and convicted felon Tina Peters.”
The announcement follows reports that the Trump Administration wants to use nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer funds to create an “Anti-Weaponization Fund” that could reward Donald Trump’s political loyalists, including individuals who stormed the capitol on January 6 and infamous Colorado election denier Tina Peters.
Michael has already taken steps to put an end to the illegal fund, calling for an investigation into the legality of the fund and preparing legislation to eliminate the fund entirely and prohibit any similar funds from being created in the future.
Michael will also co-lead Colorado U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper’s amendment to block any federal funds from going to Tina Peters after Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that Peters could potentially qualify for compensation from the fund despite her felony convictions tied to Colorado election security breaches.
“Tina Peters undermined our gold-star elections and was convicted by a jury of her peers,” Michael said. “Colorado taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize election denialism or political extremism. We will not allow Donald Trump to turn taxpayer dollars into a rewards program for political cronies.”
If Congress cannot stop the fund, Michael would, as Governor, ensure that no recipient in Colorado profits from it through a 100% state tax on any payouts.
