Denver Radio: Three KLZ-AM Talkers Walk Claiming Censorship

Clark, Cook, Cal Thomas, Corporon

Three talk show hosts on KLZ 560 AM have resigned, claiming station management interfered with their coverage of a coup attempt inside the Colorado Republican Party.

Randy Corporon, Ken Clark and Kris Cook submitted letters of resignation to KLZ parent company Crawford Broadcasting, according to a joint statement issued by the radio hosts.

"This is a united protest by the three of us against interference with our shows," the hosts wrote. They claimed station management banned on-air appearances by former Congressman Tom Tancredo and Colorado GOP chairman Steve House.

Tancredo and House are embroiled in a feud in which House accused Tancredo and his allies, including Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, of trying to blackmail him out of office with false claims of marital infidelity.

Crawford Broadcasting President Don Crawford, Jr confirmed the departures but said the on-air ban only involved Tancredo, not House.

"We were told we have full creative control of our shows," Kris Cook told 9NEWS.

Crawford was nonplussed by allegations of censorship.

"I guess they didn't realize they don't own the radio station," Crawford said.

Crawford said there was no censorship and he’s surprised the three are making that claim. He said he did order a “freeze” on Tancredo being a guest until he could personally meet him and talk to him about his role in the ongoing drama concerning the state Colorado Republican Party chairman, Steve House.

The KLZ AM website still promotes their shows. Corporon’s aired from 5 to 8 a.m.; Clark’s from 1 to 3 p.m.; and Cook’s from 6 to 8 p.m.