Democratic District Attorney Amy Padden faces a recall effort after her office moved to dismiss kidnapping charges against Solomon Galligan, a transgender sex offender. Galligan was accused of attempting to abduct an 11-year-old boy from an Aurora elementary school playground in April 2024. The dismissal came after a mental competency evaluation declared Galligan unfit for trial.
Prosecutors cited Colorado law requiring dropped charges when defendants are mentally incompetent. Galligan reportedly suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Security footage captured him approaching children during recess and attempting to grab the boy before fleeing.
Outraged conservatives launched an immediate recall campaign against Padden. Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky declared the recall effort already underway and guaranteed its success. Jurinsky condemned Padden’s progressive approach as “deplorable” and accused her of failing to uphold laws.
The case spotlights Colorado’s controversial criminal justice policies. Critics argue lax mental health laws shield dangerous offenders from accountability. Padden’s decision represents the escalating clash between progressive legal reforms and public safety demands.
Galligan remains a registered sex offender from prior Pueblo County convictions. His alleged attempt to snatch a child reinforces conservative concerns about lenient treatment of repeat offenders. Footage shows children screaming as Galligan targeted the boy.
Recall organizers vow to remove Padden for neglecting crime victims. Jurinsky emphasized that Coloradans won’t tolerate progressive attitudes endangering communities. The recall drive reflects mounting frustration with liberal prosecutors prioritizing offenders over public protection.
Padden’s dismissal of the kidnapping case becomes a rallying point for law-and-order advocates. The recall campaign signals a decisive pushback against perceived soft-on-crime policies. Galligan remains free despite video evidence of the attempted kidnapping.
This controversy underscores a critical choice between radical reforms and community safety. The recall movement against Padden gathers strength as conservatives mobilize to restore justice. Colorado families demand prosecutors who prioritize children’s safety over criminals’ rights.