CNN
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New Mexico Lawyer Common Raúl Torrez’ workplace is taking the lead in probing the marketing campaign funds of Solomon Peña, who police say was behind a spate of shootings at Democratic officers’ properties.
The transfer comes after Albuquerque police stated they had been investigating whether or not Peña’s marketing campaign was funded partially by money from narcotics gross sales that had been laundered into marketing campaign contributions.
“We’ve got formally opened an investigation into the marketing campaign funds,” Lauren Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the legal professional normal’s workplace, informed CNN.
Peña, a Republican and vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump who misplaced a state Home race in 2022, is accused of hiring and conspiring with 4 males to shoot on the properties of two state legislators and two county commissioners.
He was arrested Monday and is because of seem in district court docket on January 23 for a listening to that can decide whether or not he’s detained or launched with situations.
The Albuquerque Police Division stated in an announcement that investigators consider Peña “recognized people to funnel contributions from an unknown supply to his legislative marketing campaign.”
“Detectives are working with different legislation enforcement companies to find out whether or not the cash for the marketing campaign contributions was generated from narcotics trafficking, and whether or not marketing campaign legal guidelines had been violated,” the division stated within the assertion.
Marketing campaign finance data present the only largest contributor to Peña’s marketing campaign was José Trujillo, a person who police say Peña recruited to be a part of the workforce of shooters.
Police say Trujillo, who donated $5,155 to Peña’s failed marketing campaign and listed his occupation as “cashier,” was arrested on January 3 – the night time of the final of 4 shootings – on an impressive felony warrant.
A Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputy discovered Trujillo with greater than $3,000 in money, practically 900 narcotics capsules price roughly $15,000 and two weapons, one among which was ballistically matched to that day’s capturing, police stated. He was stopped driving Peña’s automotive, stated a legislation enforcement official who spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of the investigation is ongoing.
Albuquerque investigators are targeted on Trujillo’s massive marketing campaign contributions and whether or not they might need come from drug cash, as a result of investigators say Trujillo has no recognized reliable supply of revenue and was arrested with medication and cash, the legislation enforcement official stated. In an assault case through which Trujillo was the sufferer final fall, police data say Trujillo informed police he was between properties on the time.
“You’ve got a suspected gunman who claims to be homeless with $3,000 {dollars} in money and a bag of medicine making large donations to a marketing campaign. It’s important to ask your self the place that cash is coming from,” stated the legislation enforcement official who spoke on the situation of anonymity.
Trujillo’s mom, Melanie Griego, donated $4,000, in line with marketing campaign finance data. However Griego staunchly denied making any marketing campaign contributions in an interview with the Albuquerque Journal, telling the newspaper she lives on a “month-to-month revenue” and doesn’t have 1000’s of {dollars} to spend money on a political marketing campaign.
CNN reached out to Peña’s and Trujillo’s legal professional however didn’t instantly obtain a response.
A legal criticism within the court docket case in opposition to Peña says that Trujillo, his father Demetrio and his two brothers conspired with the failed Republican candidate to shoot up the properties of 4 politicians. The 4 haven’t been charged, however further expenses are anticipated within the case.
A legislation enforcement supply stated Peña met members of the capturing workforce he allegedly recruited when he was in jail serving time for his position in a smash-and-grab workforce that specialised in stealing vehicles and driving them by way of the home windows of huge field shops to steal high-end electronics.
Peña needed to acquire state court docket approval to run for workplace as a convicted felon. The state court docket concluded that underneath present New Mexico legislation, Peña was eligible to run as a result of he had served his sentence and accomplished his parole.
Gunshots had been fired into the properties of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa on December 4; incoming state Home Speaker Javier Martinez on December 8; then-Bernalillo Commissioner Debbie O’Malley on December 11; and state Sen. Linda Lopez on January 3, in line with police.
Peña misplaced his race to Democratic state Rep. Miguel Garcia 26% to 74%. Every week later, he tweeted he “by no means conceded” the race and was researching his choices.
Barboa stated, after November’s election however earlier than the shootings, that Peña – who had embraced Trump’s claims of widespread election fraud on social media – had approached some officers at their properties with paperwork he claimed was proof of election fraud.
“He got here to my home after the election. … He was saying that the elections had been faux … actually talking erratically. I didn’t really feel threatened on the time, however I did really feel like he was erratic,” Barboa informed “CNN This Morning” on Tuesday.
CNN has reached out to Peña’s marketing campaign web site for remark. On Wednesday, his legal professional, Roberta Yurcic, stated in an electronic mail that the allegations in opposition to him are “merely accusations.”
“Mr. Peña is presumed harmless of the fees in opposition to him,” Yurcic stated. “Mr. Peña and I stay up for a full and truthful investigation of those claims. I plan to completely defend Mr. Peña and fiercely safeguard his rights all through this course of.”