Congressman Lamborn Urges Department of Justice to Investigate the Colorado Civil Rights Commission
Washington D.C. - Today, Congressman Lamborn sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions calling for the Department of Justice to investigate the anti-religious bias of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. The Civil Rights Commission has targeted small business owner and Coloradan Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop in an attempt to discredit his religious beliefs and destroy his business.
In June 2017, the very day the the Supreme Court announced their intention to hear the original Masterpiece case, a local attorney asked Mr. Phillips to design a cake celebrating their gender transition. Mr. Phillips politely declined because the cake's artistic message conflicted with his deeply held Christian beliefs. The attorney then filed a complaint with the Civil Rights Commission; however, because Masterpiece was pending, the Commission waited to act. Now, shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mr. Phillips in a 7-2 decision that also soundly rebuked the Civil Rights Commission for their hostility towards Mr. Phillips' religious beliefs, the Commission has attacked again and issued a new probable cause determination against him.
Congressman Lamborn's letter requests the DOJ to investigate the actions of Ms. Aubrey Elenis, Director of the Colorado Civil Rights Division, as well as the Civil Rights Commission for their continued anti-religious bias. The Department of Justice cannot continue to allow a biased arbiter, who holds a near monopoly on anti-discrimination cases within the state, to continue to wage a personal campaign against individuals they disagree with.
The letter reads in part: "Mr. Phillips and other creative professionals should not be targeted by the government for living consistently with their deeply held beliefs just because an agency director or the government doesn't like those beliefs. Religious freedom is critical to maintaining a free society, and it must be defended."
Congressman Lamborn issued the following statement:
"Freedom of religion and the ability to express one's religious beliefs have been a core American principle since our nation's founding. All Americans have the First Amendment right to speak and peacefully live consistently with their religious convictions. However, these liberties are under assault. The Colorado Civil Rights Commission has been on a crusade against Jack Phillips for over six years now and it continues even after the Supreme Court handed down a final ruling. Mr. Phillips' shop serves any and every customer, but he reserves the right to use his artistic talents how he chooses. This action on behalf of the Commission is clearly a biased attempt at punishment and retribution. This cannot stand. I am calling on the Department of Justice to protect the rights of religious Coloradans by ensuring that the Civil Rights Commission cannot continue its harassment of people of faith in my home state and its attempts to violate their first amendment freedoms."