Democrats on Colorado’s audit committee took a “protect-their-own” position on Monday when they voted against a performance audit of the state’s election’s division. The person the Democrats were likely trying to protect was Secretary of State Jena Griswold, the state-wide elected official who oversees the elections division. Griswold, a Democrat, is subjected to false criticism from far-right extremists who have developed a vast conspiracy of election fraud and put her at the head of it. She has received threats of violence and sexist attacks on her job performance that her male counterparts in Colorado’s constitutional offices have not faced.