Former Aide Accuses Colorado Secretary of State's Office of Toxic Workplace

Allegations of bullying, retaliation surface as Griswold secures top ballot spot for attorney general race

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:24pm

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A former top aide to Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswold has accused the office of maintaining a toxic workplace, alleging that employees faced a culture of bullying and were discouraged from speaking out due to fears of retaliation. The claims surfaced just before Griswold narrowly secured the top ballot spot in the race for attorney general, with the Griswold campaign describing the timing of the accusations as a 'last-minute smear effort' intended to influence the assembly results.

Why it matters

The allegations raise concerns about the work environment within the Colorado Secretary of State's office and could potentially impact Griswold's campaign for attorney general if they gain traction. The use of non-disclosure agreements to prevent staff from discussing workplace issues is also concerning and suggests a lack of transparency.

The details

According to the former aide, employees in the Secretary of State's office were 'abused, bullied and discarded' during their time on staff. The aide also claimed that non-disclosure agreements served as a barrier for those wishing to come forward sooner, preventing staff from discussing specific incidents, dates or examples of workplace issues. The Griswold campaign has dismissed the allegations as a 'last-minute smear effort' by political opponents intended to influence the state assembly results.

  • The claims surfaced as Griswold sought and narrowly secured the top ballot spot in the race for attorney general.
  • The release of these allegations occurred one day before the Democratic Party's assembly in Pueblo on Saturday.

The players

Jenna Griswold

The Colorado Secretary of State who is running for attorney general.

Former top aide

A former high-ranking employee in the Colorado Secretary of State's office who has accused the office of maintaining a toxic workplace.

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What they’re saying

“Political opponents pushed out these misleading and politically-motivated attacks as the state assembly gaveled in, in a last-minute smear effort to keep Jena off the ballot. They failed. We remain focused on earning the support of Colorado voters and remain committed to running a positive campaign.”

— Griswold Campaign, Campaign Statement

What’s next

The allegations against the Colorado Secretary of State's office will likely continue to be investigated and could potentially impact Griswold's campaign for attorney general if they gain more traction.

The takeaway

The claims of a toxic workplace culture and the use of non-disclosure agreements to prevent staff from speaking out raise serious concerns about transparency and accountability within the Colorado Secretary of State's office. These allegations, if proven true, could have significant implications for the office's operations and Griswold's political future.