Colorado DA Faces Recall Over Dismissing Charges Against Trans Sex Offender

In Aurora, Colorado, Democratic District Attorney Amy Padden faces a recall effort after her office announced plans to drop charges against Solomon Galligan, a transgender registered sex offender accused of attempting to kidnap an 11-year-old boy from a school playground. Galligan was found mentally incompetent to stand trial following a competency evaluation, which legally requires dismissal of charges, according to the DA's office. Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky, a Republican, condemned the decision as part of a broader progressive agenda she opposes, calling Padden's conduct "beyond deplorable" and promising a successful recall campaign. Galligan, diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, has been in and out of jail for over a decade and was previously deemed unfit to stand trial but not institutionalized due to mental health facility shortages. The controversy has sparked public outrage, with critics highlighting the risks posed by releasing Galligan to a mental health facility while the DA's office insists that he will not be released to the public. Padden, who took office in January 2025 with support from George Soros, is the first Democrat to hold the position in over 60 years, intensifying political tensions surrounding the case.