Judge finds sexual assault claim against Colorado lawmaker “incredible,” casting doubt on allegations

For more than a year, state Rep. Leslie Herod has faced public allegations of sexual assault made by another woman who is active in Colorado Democratic politics, including some leveled in social media posts when Herod was running for Denver mayor.

Now Herod says she feels vindicated after a Denver County Court judge last month cast doubt on the accuser’s allegations, including the alleged assault a few years ago, by finding her testimony was not credible. The judge ruled against the accuser during a hearing called after she requested a protection order against Herod, according to a court transcript provided to The Denver Post, denying accuser Sheena Kadi’s request for a permanent order. Instead, the judge granted a protection order to the state lawmaker.

Two half-day hearings in February culminated in Judge Clarisse Gonzales declaring that the evidence of threats or violence presented against Herod were unsubstantiated. In her ruling from the bench on Feb. 12, Gonzales said the accuser’s testimony was “incredible on 100 percent of the facts that were asserted.”

“I’m grateful that there was a process to have my voice be heard,” Herod told The Post in an interview. “It just never should have gotten to this point.”

Herod’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg, provided a copy of the 12-page transcript, which is an excerpt from the proceedings that covers only the judge’s detailed oral ruling.

Kadi is a spokesperson for the Colorado Treasurer’s Office and is the vice chair of public relations and marketing for the Colorado Democratic Party. She previously frequented the Colorado State Capitol as deputy director of One Colorado, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ people.

Reached Sunday, Kadi did not respond to specific questions about the ruling. When provided with a direct quote from the judge’s ruling, Kadi said she hadn’t seen or read the court transcript. She has previously declined to comment to The Post about the allegations she posted on social media.

While The Post typically does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault, it is naming Kadi because she has made the accusations against Herod so publicly.

The protection order requires that Kadi make no contact with Herod or publish any social media posts to or about the lawmaker. It also requires that Kadi remain 100 yards away from Herod at all times, except when Kadi is at the Capitol for work purposes or at events approved by the treasurer or by the party. In those work instances, Kadi must remain at least 25 yards away from Herod, according to the record.

As Kadi had aired her accusations, going back to early 2023, she didn’t name Herod in all her social media posts or give details on the conduct she was alleging. But the connection to Herod was often clear.

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