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Griswold addressed the issue head-on during her conversation with Clark, but her responses often seemed evasive. When Clark pointed out the GOP’s claim that over 600 passwords were exposed, Griswold disputed the exact numbers, explaining, “A spreadsheet located on the Department website improperly had a hidden tab with partial passwords.” She clarified that the passwords were incomplete, stating they represented “just one of the two required credentials” and were therefore not sufficient for full system access. However, critics argue that even partial passwords should never have been publicly accessible.
When Clark pressed for more specifics, including the exact number of counties impacted, Griswold declined to provide details, saying, “We have staff in the field looking into this situation.” She assured viewers that her office was taking “abundant caution,” including changing passwords and reviewing access logs. Clark questioned Griswold’s decision not to immediately notify Colorado county clerks, leading to further tension. Griswold admitted her office had not informed local election officials before the GOP made the news public, explaining, “We were conducting an investigation and were in the field today.”
Clark also highlighted Griswold’s previous statements from 2021, when her office took a firm stance on a similar incident in Mesa County. At that time, her office labeled the unauthorized release of BIOS passwords as a serious breach and imposed severe consequences. Addressing this apparent double standard, Clark questioned Griswold on whether her office’s own leak could be classified as an “insider threat.” Griswold categorically denied this, stating, “This does not pose an immediate security threat to Colorado’s elections.” She emphasized Colorado’s security layers, including multi-part passwords and restricted physical access to voting machines.
During the interview, Clark raised the issue of the state’s consistent claims regarding election security and transparency. The affidavit detailed that the passwords were publicly accessible for months before being removed, raising further questions about why Griswold’s office had not acted sooner. Griswold confirmed that the passwords were taken down only recently, and said her office acted as soon as they became aware of the issue. “As soon as my office became aware, we took immediate action,” she explained. Despite her reassurances, Clark continued to question why there was no similar level of public disclosure or immediate notification to election officials, as seen in past cases.
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As the interview came to a close, Clark posed a direct question to Griswold about her accountability and whether she would resign over the incident, given the erosion of voter trust. Griswold swiftly dismissed the suggestion, calling it a “mischaracterization of the situation.” She responded, “We addressed the 2022 postcard issue and tracked it carefully. No ineligible people registered, and Colorado consistently ranks high in election confidence.”
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In her closing statements, Griswold stood by her office’s record, acknowledging the complexities and challenges of running elections while maintaining transparency. She reiterated that her office would continue to investigate and respond to the situation with federal partners, aiming to prevent any future issues. Nonetheless, Clark’s final question hung in the air, leaving viewers to ponder whether Colorado’s “Gold Standard” in election security remains as solid as Griswold claims.
