Republican Michael Allen is warning that a newly introduced Democratic bill to decriminalize commercial sex would open the door to more human trafficking and crime in Colorado. He says the proposal goes beyond Nevada’s approach and would create legal and enforcement problems statewide. As a current district attorney and GOP candidate for attorney general, Allen frames this as a clear law-and-order issue ahead of a pivotal election. The debate ties directly into rising human trafficking reports and a demand for stronger statewide prosecution tools.
The measure was introduced by Democratic state senators and representatives this session and promises to “decriminalize adult commercial sexual activity” for consenting adults. Allen says the timing and the scope are baffling, especially given the surge in trafficking across the state and the strain on law enforcement. “It’s hard for me to even decipher why they’ve decided this is the time and place to introduce a radical bill like this,” Allen said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
He warns the proposal would go well beyond Nevada’s limited regulatory model and could transform Colorado’s legal posture on commercial sex. Allen bluntly predicts a shift in reputation and enforcement if the bill advanced. According to Allen, the bill would go far beyond Nevada’s law allowing prostitution and would make Colorado “the leader in the entire country on legalized prostitution.”
Allen said the proposal offers no realistic fixes for the pressing problems Coloradans face, and he questioned the priorities of lawmakers pushing it. He emphasized the bill would not address the fiscal or public-safety crises many voters feel every day on the streets and in communities. “I was shocked,” Allen admitted.
He laid out a blunt list of shortcomings he sees in the idea, arguing it would not help budgets or crime and would likely worsen both. For Allen, the bill appears disconnected from the ground-level realities law enforcement sees in Colorado’s towns and travel corridors. “It doesn’t make any sense to me. It would not solve any issue that is happening on the ground in Colorado. It would not help with our huge budget deficit. It will not help our crime deficit,” he said.
Allen was even more pointed about the political implications, accusing a few Democratic legislators of making a reckless move that ignores victims. He framed the sponsorship as an ideological gesture with real consequences for vulnerable people. “It is, frankly, very appalling to me that we’ve got four members of the left-leaning Democrat legislature who thought it would be a good idea to just open the floodgates and let these criminal actors run free without any repercussions.”
The bill sponsors did not comment publicly, and for now the measure appears to have stalled in the statehouse. Allen is one of two Republicans running to flip the attorney general’s office, and he argues Colorado voters are primed for change after a decade of policies he calls “devastatingly bad criminal justice reform.” If elected, he would be the first GOP attorney general in Colorado in over ten years and would push a tougher law enforcement posture.
Colorado has seen steep increases in reported human trafficking cases, with studies showing a high share tied to commercial sex and concentration in the Denver metro area. Data tracked by local research groups indicate 79% of reported trafficking incidents in the state were for commercial sexual exploitation, reinforcing Allen’s concern. “You’ve got two major corridors of travel that go through the state,” which, he said, “are major arteries for human trafficking, and we see that in the Denver metro area as a huge hub for human trafficking.”
To Allen, legalizing or decriminalizing commercial sex would only strengthen the networks that traffic people and exploit victims. He drew a clear connection between the two issues and warned lawmakers not to underestimate the causal relationship. “Prostitution is a natural outgrowth of human trafficking,” he said. “The links are undeniable.”
As a candidate, Allen says he would marshal the attorney general’s office to pursue trafficking networks aggressively and use statewide tools to build broader cases. He singled out the statewide grand jury and coordinated prosecutions as key levers the office can use to disrupt organized criminal activity. “The attorney general’s office has the ability to use the statewide grand jury to investigate those crimes and then also prosecute those crimes and hold people accountable,” he said.
With the midterm cycle approaching, Allen frames the attorney general race as consequential for Colorado’s safety and legal approach. He argues voters should demand a tougher, more coordinated response from the AG’s office and an end to policies that, in his view, have weakened enforcement. “We need to have a better, stronger and more effective posture from our Colorado Attorney General’s Office to combat criminal activity that is, frankly, affecting the entire state of Colorado,” he said.
Darnell Thompkins is a conservative opinion writer from Atlanta, GA, known for his insightful commentary on politics, culture, and community issues. With a passion for championing traditional values and personal responsibility, Darnell brings a thoughtful Southern perspective to the national conversation. His writing aims to inspire meaningful dialogue and advocate for policies that strengthen families and empower individuals.