Ethics board clears DIA execs’ $100K Madrid trip—but blasts ‘appalling’ public spending

By Brian Maass | CBS Colorado

Denver’s Board of Ethics on Friday cleared Denver International Airport and its Chief Executive Officer, Phil Washington, of an ethics violation related to a trip to a conference in Madrid earlier this year. That trip was the subject of a CBS Colorado Investigation, but the board said it was “appalled by both the amount of funds that were expended for this conference and by Mr. Washington’s seemingly cavalier attitude in responding to this complaint.”

Washington and eight of his top executives flew in April to the three-day airport conference in Madrid, with all of the executives flying either first class or business class for every leg of the trip, both to and from Madrid. CBS Colorado found that one of the tickets was over $19,000, and another cost nearly $16,000.

The ethics board said it received an anonymous complaint about the expenditures shortly after the CBS Colorado investigation was broadcast, and it began investigating whether Washington and his associates had violated the ethics code by using public office for private gain.

In the lengthy opinion, the board concluded Washington had not used public office for private gain, but the board blistered Washington for the amount of money spent and the rationale used for the spending.

The board said Washington told them he “had no idea of the cost of those tickets.” He told the board the upgrades were compliant with Denver International Airport policy as the overseas flights were over 8 hours long. According to the opinion, Washington stated, “that upon reflection, had he known the price of the tickets was that high, he would not have allowed the trip.” But the board questioned that assertion, saying Washington had approved cost estimates for flights before they were purchased.

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