"New Mexico Business Coalition President Obtained RPNM "Investigative" Report

Albuquerque, NM (April 13, 2017)' Albuquerque, NM (April 13, 2017)'The president of the New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC) today filed a stipulation ending her defamation lawsuit against the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM). Carla Sonntag filed the lawsuit to obtain a report from the RPNM it claimed presented GÇ£irrefutable proofGÇ¥ she authored anonymous emails in December 2016 that criticized RPNM leaders.

"I now know why the RPNM preferred to bury its so-called 'proof,'" Carla stated. "The report proves one thing, which is that the RPNM had no basis to attack me, my family, or the New Mexico Business Coalition."

Carla filed the lawsuit on Jan. 4 and told RPNM leaders she would withdraw the suit if they apologized for their reckless claims that were intended to harm her reputation. She made clear during negotiations with the RPNM over the past three months that she would demand a copy of the report unless the apology and a retraction were issued. She obtained the report in her suit, and determined after reading it that no further litigation was required to clear her name.

"The report makes clear the RPNM strung together a series of meaningless information about computers, email addresses and Internet accounts belonging to third-parties I do not know to target me and my organization." Carla stated. "There is not a shred of evidence that connects me or anyone I know to any anonymous emails, and the fact that I speak openly and often about my views makes the claim even more absurd."

According to the report, the RPNM conducted a three-day "investigation" before making its claims, and erroneously stated an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the anonymous emails was registered to Carla and "Carla's old home address." In fact, no such evidence exists and the investigation produced useless information. Specifically, the investigation did not tie the IP address to Carla or any other person or home, failed to produce the fact discovered by Carla in the course of her litigation that the emails were sent through an Internet Service Provider (Comcast) and used accounts that neither she nor members of her family have ever used, and simply resulted in encouraging RPNM leaders to disseminate the names, addresses, emails, and social security numbers of Carla and her family members that had been inserted into the report as GÇ£evidenceGÇ¥ of their supposed involvement.

Carla also today announced that she will redirect resources donated to her by independent third-parties for the litigation to an outreach effort intended to thank hundreds of supporters across the state who contacted her about her lawsuit over the past few months. This will include a "Thank You" campaign through social media that will be assisted by a number of conservative grassroots organizations, and continuation of her speaking engagements across the state on behalf of the New Mexico Business Coalition.

The lawsuit and stipulation to dismiss were filed in the 2nd Judicial District Court in Bernalillo County, NM.