New Website Exposes Phil Weiser’s Pay-to-Play Pattern

PayToPlayPhil.com details Weiser’s record of taking money from corporations, lobbyists, and lawyers with business before his office

DENVER, CO — Michael Bennet’s campaign for governor today launched PayToPlayPhil.com, a new website documenting Phil Weiser’s well-reported pattern of accepting contributions from corporations, lobbyists, and attorneys whose clients had business before the Colorado Attorney General’s office.

The website highlights how Weiser, while serving as Attorney General and Chair of the Attorney General Alliance, raised money from corporate interests that were actively involved in litigation with his office — then treated those interests “differently in probes,” receiving a lighter settlement from the AG’s office than those in similar investigations who did not donate to Phil’s campaigns.

“Phil Weiser’s history of engaging in pay-to-play politics is alarming,” said Nellie Moran, Michael Bennet’s campaign manager. “Time and again, corporations and lawyers with business before his office gave money, got access, and in some cases, received special treatment. Coloradans deserve a governor who does what’s right for them — not one who lets powerful interests buy a seat at the table or a better outcome.”

Phil Weiser spotlights his “grassroots” campaign donations, but the corporations, lawyers, and insiders actually funding Phil’s campaigns are often the same ones negotiating settlements with his office. This begs the question, who does Phil fight for: corporations and lobbyists or working Coloradans?

PayToPlayPhil.com outlines a concerning pattern:

• AG access for sale: As Chair of the Attorney General Alliance, Weiser helped lead an organization built to connect corporate executives and lobbyists with attorneys general. Corporate donors were given direct access to the very officials responsible for holding them accountable.

• Money from companies under investigation: Weiser courted donations from corporate partners, including Comcast and TurboTax, while both companies were in active litigation with his office. Both cases ended in settlements.

• Lavish retreats funded by active defendants: Companies including Pfizer, Juul, Google, and Facebook — all facing active litigation from Weiser’s office — helped pay for a luxury retreat in Hawaii attended by Weiser and other attorneys general. Sponsors were reportedly offered a menu of options to pay for access.

• Ethics 101: As Chair of the AGA, a group that existed to “give corporate lobbyists and executives access to attorneys general,” Weiser received sharp criticism from his legal colleagues. Chris Toth, former executive director of the National Association of Attorneys General slammed Weiser, saying “to me, it’s Ethics 101… Any person would look at this and say, you know that’s not right… Phil Weiser was aware of my views. He had different views.”

From corporate-funded retreats to campaign checks from lawyers with business before his office, Phil Weiser’s record raises serious questions about who gets access, who gets special treatment, and who he is really fighting for.

For more information, visit www.PayToPlayPhil.com.