Aide Filed Lawsuit Against Representative Sheila Lieder
The complaint alleges the Colorado lawmaker forced staff to perform campaign work during official legislative hours.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Law
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Former senior legislative aide Nick Buttrey has filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court against Representative Sheila Lieder. The suit claims Lieder required campaign work to be performed during taxpayer-funded legislative hours.
Why it matters
The litigation highlights a major conflict involving the misuse of state resources, as Colorado law strictly prohibits utilizing public time or assets for political campaign activities.
This marks the second lawsuit filed against Sheila Lieder by a former aide as of August 2026. The legal action centers on violations of Colorado state law regarding the use of state resources for political campaigns.
The players
Nick Buttrey
He is a former senior legislative aide who served under Representative Sheila Lieder.
Sheila Lieder
She is a member of the Colorado House of Representatives representing the Littleton area.
The details
Nick Buttrey alleges he was compelled to manage campaign operations while officially employed as a legislative aide for the Littleton-based representative. He claims that after he raised concerns about the requests, he faced retaliation from Lieder prior to his termination in June 2026.
Timeline
Nick Buttrey began working as a legislative aide in December 2024.
Buttrey resigned from his role as campaign manager in May 2026.
Sheila Lieder terminated Buttrey from his aide position in June 2026.
A former aide filed an initial lawsuit against Lieder in August 2026.
Buttrey officially filed his lawsuit on October 6, 2026.
Political Context
Opponents and ethics watchdogs argue that the allegations demonstrate a systemic disregard for the Colorado state law prohibiting the use of state resources for political campaigns. These critics maintain that such actions undermine public trust in the independence of legislative staff.
The litigation serves as a reminder to taxpayers that state-funded staff roles are protected by ethics regulations meant to keep public office separate from partisan politics. Residents should monitor the case for potential changes in how legislative aide duties are monitored by the state.
The takeaway
Maintaining a clear boundary between government duties and campaign work is a fundamental requirement for elected officials. Voters should remain attentive to how their tax dollars are utilized within legislative offices.
Further reading
For more information on the legal processes governing state officials, visit our Law section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Denver Post.
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