A panel of Colorado state representatives began questioning witnesses Thursday in response to an ethics complaint against Democratic Rep. Mandy Lindsay, who is alleged to have mismanaged the internal Democratic House caucus fund.

The bipartisan House Ethics Committee in May found probable cause in the complaint, allowing further investigation.

“Rep. Lindsay made a few mistakes and did not use best practices to manage the petty cash fund,” attorney Jerome DeHerrera said at the start of the meeting. “Rep. Lindsay has acknowledged those mistakes and she’s restored the petty cash fund.”

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Fellow Democratic Rep. Bob Marshall of Highlands Ranch filed the ethics complaint earlier this year, alleging that Lindsay improperly reimbursed herself thousands of dollars from the caucus fund and breached her fiduciary duty as caucus co-chair. Those reimbursements include over $6,000 for a November 2024 hotel charge that was already debited from the caucus account and $2,500 in dues. She also mistakenly used the caucus card for a motel room in March 2025.

In her response to the complaint, Lindsay wrote that she initially thought the hotel was going to charge her personal card on file, so she wrote a check to herself for reimbursement. She later realized the caucus card, not hers, was charged. She kept the check, however, as partial reimbursement for the “several thousands of dollars” she personally spent as caucus co-chair.

Before the evidentiary hearing, DeHerrera contended that it’s improper for the committee to act as a judicial body, since a court would need to determine if Lindsay was technically a fiduciary, and therefore if she breached that duty. The committee continued with the hearing.

Asked to resign

House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat, told lawmakers that she thought the caucus account was “very poorly managed,” and was concerned with Lindsay’s persistent use of personal money for caucus expenses, her poor communication about the account’s low balance, and irregularities with her explanation of the $6,000 check. McCluskie organized the effort to have Will Quinn, compliance director with the state’s Democratic Party, reconcile the account in spring 2025. Quinn ultimately found that the fund had been used for its intended purpose but that basic accounting principles weren’t followed. On Thursday, he said he was less confident in that conclusion, but that the majority of expenses seem in line with caucus purposes.

McCluskie said that after learning about inconsistencies with the caucus fund, she asked Lindsay multiple times to resign as caucus chair. Lindsay did not. McCluskie also said it was difficult to obtain requested receipts and records from Lindsay for that account reconciliation.

“I find some of the explanations and behaviors unusual and concerning,” she said, adding that she didn’t think any of it was criminal.

“Her stepping down (as caucus chair) would have resolved any concerns with the caucus,” she said.

Jaclyn Davison, who served as Lindsay’s aide in 2024, testified on Thursday that she doesn’t remember specific instructions about how to store and track caucus-related receipts. She also said that some caucus food orders were placed on her personal DoorDash account, though not on her personal card.

The committee also heard testimony on Thursday from Quinn, former Lindsay aide Kate Ehrlich and Rep. Brianna Titone, an Arvada Democrat who previously served as caucus co-chair with Lindsay. The committee will continue with the evidentiary hearing on Friday and hear from Marshall, Lindsay and Rep. Junie Joseph, the current caucus co-chair.

When that process is complete, the committee can decide to dismiss the complaint or make recommendations to House leadership about penalties.

Lindsay will not return to the Legislature next year. She lost her district’s Democratic primary to Sarah Woodson.

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