DENVER — Charges have been dropped against a group of five healthcare protestors who staged a sit-in inside Colorado Senator Cory Gardner's office.
The five protesters were the latest in a string of protesters who occupied the sitting senator's office to make a statement regarding healthcare, demanding he vote to preserve the Affordable Care Act.
According to the attorney representing the five protesters, Gardner himself asked for charges to be dropped against the protesters, saying he did not want to be the "victim" in the court case.
Last week, the Denver City Attorney's office declined to drop charges, but on Tuesday, the charges were dropped and a judge sealed the records of the five who were charged. That means it will never show up on their individual records.
Still, roughly 10 other protestors face charges of trespassing and more related to a protest staged in late June that lasted for two days.
Protestors with the ADAPT group, which organizes disability rights advocates, held up in the senator's office and were eventually removed by police.
On Tuesday, Carrie Ann Lucas, one of the group's leaders, confirmed charges were not dismissed against members of her group.
Lucas faces charges relating to trespassing and interfering with an officer who was arresting her.
Lucas said she believes, "he treats us discriminatorily," and requested he drop charges against the ADAPT group, as well.
