Former state Sen. Phil Griego
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas on Monday brought felony charges against a former Democratic state senator accused of using his office to make money on the sale of a state building.
Like many of his colleagues, Phil Griego of San Jose kept his day job while serving as a part-time state senator. But his work as a real estate agent became a problem, authorities say, after he took a $50,000 commission on a deal he had ushered through the legislature.
Charges filed in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe accuse Griego of bribery, solicitation, tampering with records and “violating the ethical principles of public service.”
He’s also charged with defrauding other brokers out of what should have been their share of the commission.
He has maintained he did nothing wrong.
Griego resigned last year after details of the deal came to light. Senate leaders have since said that was evidence the state doesn’t need an independent ethics commission.
A judge will decide if there is enough evidence to bring the case to trial.
Here are the charges leveled against Griego, according to the AG’s complaint:
Ethical principles of public service NMSA 1978, Sections (B),
and/or (C) (2011) and 10-16-17 (1993).Ethical principles of public service NMSA 1978, Sections
(2011) and 31-18?15 (2007).Bribery and solicitation Article IV, Sections 39 and 40 of the New Mexico
Constitution.Fraud NMSA 1978, Section 30-16-6 (2006).
Fraud NMSA 1978, Section 30-16-6 (2006).
Fraud NMSA 1978, Section 30-16-6 (2006).
Perjury NMSA 1978, Section 30-25?1 (2009).
Tampering with public records NMSA 1978, Section 30-26-1 (1963).
Financial Disclosure Act – NMSA 1978, Sections (2015) and 10-
16A-7 (1993).
Is there a reason you don’t put the party affiliation when you write about legislators? I think you should say whether they’re a D or R. Just sayin.
Thank you Kyla for the reminder. We just added Phil Griego’s party affiliation — Democrat.