State's Chief Election Officer "Conveniently" Misses Own Deadline, Hiding Documents in 11th Hour Political Tactic

Albuquerque, December 31—New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver continues to play partisan political games after not providing the Trump Campaign with election records as required by law. President Trump's legal team had asked for all information related to drop boxes and voting machines in New Mexico, but Toulouse Oliver has broken a promise to turn over records by December 30.

"The Secretary of State's move is a deliberate effort to keep any evidence of potential election issues from the Trump Campaign until after Congress certifies the Electoral College vote on January 6," says Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce. "Again, the Secretary of State is partisan and defiant in refusing to uphold and oversee election integrity. She just makes up her rules. There's no transparency of government here."

The Secretary of State, by law, has a legal duty to provide election operation records. The Trump Campaign had recently filed two Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) requests, seeking New Mexico information regarding the November 3 election. Toulouse Oliver had notified Trump attorneys that she would respond on or before December 30.

That hasn't happened, and now the state has suddenly informed the Trump Team that it will change its response date to January 14, 2021, eight days after Congress meets. The state also told the Trump Team "We deem your request excessively burdensome and broad."

These documents are subject to public scrutiny because they are public records that must be disclosed. But, Toulouse Oliver won't disclose them because they are evidence that can be used by Trump.

"Again, the Secretary of State will not come clean, and it makes one wonder if there are things she doesn't want to come out," says Pearce. "It possibly suggests there might have been anomalies or questionable practices that might have occurred in New Mexico's presidential election."

The Trump Campaign wants to look at election records to see if there was something rotten in the state of New Mexico, but the state's top election officer appears to be hiding it.

The Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) advances the ideals of individual liberties for the advancement of its citizens and the greater prosperity of our communities throughout New Mexico. Led by an Executive Board and its Chairman, former NM Congressman Steve Pearce, RPNM serves all New Mexicans via its headquarters in Albuquerque and can be contacted at (505) 298-3662.

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