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8 months ago
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A Democratic Colorado State Senator announced she is getting substance abuse treatment after she arrived late to a public hearing late, appeared intoxicated, slurred her words and scrolled on her phone while community members talked.
Faith Winter, the assistant senate majority leader, was nearly 10 minutes late on Wednesday to a community hearing in Northglenn about a plan to open a halfway house for sex offenders near an elementary school.
When she walked in during opening statements, Winter - who was one of the sponsors of the bill proposing the housing - appeared unaware she was supposed to be sitting with the panelist.
Once she sat down, the top-ranking democrat gave brief and stumbling remarks. 'Most folks that go to prison, come out of prison. And we have to decide how and when and where we handle that an every local community has issues,' Winter said.
At one point in the meeting, a member of the audience shouted at Winter for scrolling on her phone while people were sharing their concerns over the facility. She responded with a garbled speech that she was using it to look up statistics.
Democratic Colorado State Senator Faith Winter announced she is getting substance abuse treatment one day after showing up to a public meeting drunk
She walked in 10 minutes late and appeared unaware she was supposed to be sitting with the panelist
At one point in the meeting, a member of the audience shouted at Winter for scrolling on her phone while people were sharing their concerns
Lissette Loya, an audience member, posted a video on Facebook of Winter looking down at her phone during the meeting.
'This was Faith Winter yesterday at our meeting as people were speaking about their own experience with sexual abuse. She was so disrespectful being on her phone and claimed her faces were because she was "reliving her own trauma."' Loya said.
On Thursday, Winter revealed to The Colorado Sun she seeking medical treatment for substance abuse and stepping down from her role as chair of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee.
'I deeply regret my behavior last night. I made a mistake and I’m truly sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort I caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am committed to making things right,' she said.
'I especially apologize to the city of Northglenn and the citizens that came out — I deeply care about your thoughts and community. I am now under the care of medical professionals and receiving treatment for my substance abuse disorder.'
Sources told The Colorado Sun that her colleagues in the senate have been concerned about her drinking and encouraged her to get help.
Senate President Steve Fenberg told The Denver Post he was 'heartened to see' that Winter is getting help for alcoholism.
'Sen. Winter is an important and valued leader in the Senate Democratic Caucus and I know, with the support of her friends and family, she will get through this challenge,' Fenberg said.
Winter said on Thursday she is seeking medical treatment for substance abuse and stepping down from her role as chair of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee
Winter suffered a head injury after a bicycle crash that required her to have brain surgery in September
Winter suffered a head injury after a bicycle crash that required her to have brain surgery in September.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the state senator said she crashed into a curb while trying to avoid a large truck. Although she was wearing a helmet, she experienced a head injury and had to undergo surgery to remove pressure on her brain.
She revealed in August 2022 that she discovered she had an autoimmune disease that led to pulmonary hypertension after she fainted while trying to board a plane.
Winter was elected the state senator of District 25, representing Adams, Broomfield and Weld counties in 2018. She was reelected in 2022 and her term ends in January 2027.
Prior to that she was a Westminster city councilwoman and was elected to the state house in 2014.
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