GOV. LUJAN GRISHAM VIOLATING STATE LAW PAYING DAUGHTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR SO-CALLED “MEDIA PREPARATION”
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF NEW MEXICO DEMANDS STATE INVESTIGATION INTO GOVERNOR FOR ILLEGALLY DIPPING INTO CAMPAIGN FUND FOR PERSONAL USE
Albuquerque, May 19—The Republican Party of New Mexico is calling on the State Attorney General and State Auditor to investigate Gov. Lujan Grisham after an ethics complaint revealed she is breaking state law regarding campaign fund spending.
The Governor has tapped into her campaign fund and spent more than $6,000 on her personal cosmetics. In a blatant act of nepotism, she has been paying her daughter these monies, which goes against New Mexico’s state statute.
Again, the Governor cannot be trusted, and she continues to break the rules and state law for personal gain. Her pattern of behavior and disregard for rules are an insult to New Mexicans, and she does not deserve to serve the people of this great state.
“First it was Jewelry Gate, then Grocery Gate, and now Cosmetics Gate—this Governor thinks she’s above the law and can do what she wants. Now she is using her campaign fund as a personal bank account. The Governor must be held accountable. For the past year, she has exceeded her authority, taken away New Mexicans’ freedoms, and broken her own rules. This Governor has broken the law, and there must be consequences or there’s no longer law and order in our government.”
A recent series of reports by the Piñon Post, a conservative blog, uncovered this misuse of campaign funds.
The Governor so far has paid her daughter, Erin Grisham, $6,083.88 since 2017 for “media preparation.” By her daughter’s admission via her LINKEDIN profile, she served as the “stylist and cosmetology consultant for Michelle Lujan Grisham for Governor Media.”
The use of campaign funds for personal reasons is against state statute, which clearly states, “Personal use of campaign funds is any use of funds in a campaign account to fulfill a commitment, obligation or expense of any candidate or legislator that would exist regardless of the candidate’s campaign or responsibilities as a legislator.” 1.10.13.25(B)(2) NMCA.
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s own official 2020 Campaign Finance Guide further affirms that the Governor is violating the law. The Guide specifically says: “Hair, nail, or make-up expenses” are not permissible campaign expenses.
An example given by Toulouse Oliver of unpermitted expenses reads: “A candidate for the legislature would like to get her nails done prior to walking neighborhoods in her district to meet and greet. This is not a permissible expenditure of campaign funds.”
John Block, Piñon Post’s editor, has formally filed an ethics complaint with the State Ethics Commission on the matter. The Commission accepted the complaint, and RPNM is calling for a full investigation into this misuse of funds.
The Governor is misusing funds for personal items, and she has no excuse—her own daughter admits to the violation and the Secretary of State’s Office makes the rules crystal clear.
