Some answers are finally forthcoming as to whether Denver Mayor Johnston followed up his Friday press conference blaming migrants for looming budget cuts with a flight to Las Vegas to catch the Super Bowl.
Has a reporter bothered asking if Denver’s mayor went to the Super Bowl with city paid security after announcing budget cuts because of migrant costs? Also, which team was he cheering for? Asking for taxpayers, Bronco fans. #copolitics #SuperBowl2024 https://t.co/sHtRuiks0e
— CO Peak Politics (@COpeakpolitics) February 12, 2024
He did, and he took his son with him.
The mayor’s office assured the media that absolutely no tax dollars or resources were used to accommodate Johnston’s trip to watch those Other Teams play football.
But we’re not so sure.
Johnston’s security detail was certainly being paid when they escorted the mayor through the airport and to the gate.
Johnston’s press secretary says the security escort was common but assures the media the mayor’s security team didn’t travel with him to Las Vegas.
We’re guessing the security detail also went to pick up Johnston on his return and escort him securely out of the airport, where hundreds of federal security officials also work.
We’re also guessing the security detail and Johnson didn’t arrive or depart in separate vehicles, so taxpayers also picked up the transportation costs and saved Johnston from paying airport parking fees. And a lot of hassle.
Sure, he’s not breaking the bank. But the whole trip looks super shady when the mayor asks city workers and taxpayers to take a financial hit for the team, and then flies to Vegas to catch the Superbowl in which (checks notes) Our Team wasn’t playing.
The mayor’s spokesperson says the tickets were compliments of Brian Griese, former Denver Broncos quarterback who is now an assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers.
Griese, who is 48, has been friends with Johnson, 49, for about 20 years, the spokesperson said.
That would be after Griese left the Broncos in 2002 to play for the Miami Dolphins and about the same time Johnston was attending Yale University in Connecticut, so yeah, that seems legit.
9News assures us it’s okay for Johnston to cheer for the San Fran team, because Mike Shanahan’s boy Kyle is the head coach, and running back Christian McCaffrey also played for the Broncos.
But we can’t back that up. There is no good reason to have cheered for either team in That Game.
As for the ethics of Johnston accepting two Super Bowl tickets with a value of more than $15,000, 9News also assures us it’s perfectly fine.
Lori Weiser, executive director of the Denver Board of Ethics, said Johnston’s acceptance of the tickets, potentially worth thousands of dollars, raised no issues under city policy.
According to the policy, the donation of event tickets is allowable under several conditions, including: “Attendance must be reasonably related to the official or ceremonial duties of the officer, official, or employee.”
Who knew going to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl was in the mayoral job description?
Sure glad the Denver media checked this out for taxpayers and gave us all these assurances the trip was legit, right?