Santa Fe, NM — Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) today demanded that Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) immediately step down or face removal by the Senate at the first available opportunity following new reporting that has revealed a pedestrian traffic incident in an alleged hit-and-run, and a separate, quietly withdrawn ethics complaint filed against her by a fellow Democrat Senator.

According to reporting by the Albuquerque Journal, Senator Stewart was involved in a traffic incident that fractured a pedestrian's foot. Alleged in court documents, the victim claimed that Senator Stewart fled the scene of the incident, leaving the victim at the scene. She was not cited. The pedestrian's subsequent lawsuit against Stewart was settled and dismissed with prejudice earlier this year, with no details of the resolution made public. Separately, an ethics complaint filed against Stewart last session by Democrat State Senator Roberto "Bobby" Gonzales was resolved privately and later withdrawn, with both lawmakers declining to disclose the underlying details.

"In this 'Democrat Corruption Culture,' New Mexicans are once again left completely in the dark," said Senator Sharer. "We have learned that an innocent pedestrian was hurt badly enough to fracture a foot while Mimi Stewart allegedly drove off, leaving the scene of an accident. Following a lawsuit, it was quietly settled without a word to the public. Additionally, a sitting Senator filed an ethics complaint against Senator Stewart, and that too disappeared behind closed doors. This is now the second time in as many years that serious questions about Senator Stewart's conduct and displayed pattern of abusive behavior have been resolved through silence instead of real accountability."

Leader Sharer noted that this new reporting comes on top of the already-documented finding that Mimi Stewart verbally abused a legislative staffer, an incident a subcommittee itself described as "unprofessional, inappropriate, and unacceptable," before a party-line vote spared her from any discipline.

"One incident is a bad day. But this is a deeply concerning pattern of abusive and reckless behavior that demands immediate accountability," Senator Sharer said. "Senator Stewart has now been at the center of a staff harassment finding, a quietly withdrawn ethics complaint from her own colleague, and now a pedestrian injury and alleged hit-and-run without any public accounting. New Mexicans have every right to ask whether the leader of their State Senate can be trusted ever again."

Leader Sharer is demanding that Mimi Stewart immediately step down. He said that if she refuses to do so, he will call on the full Senate to remove her as its first order of business at the next available opportunity.

"If Senator Stewart won't do the right thing on her own, the Senate will do it for her," Leader Sharer said. "The very first thing this body does when it next convenes should be a vote to remove her. New Mexicans deserve leadership they can trust, not leadership that continues to be let off the hook behind closed doors."

Leader Sharer also issued a call on gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland to cut ties with Mimi Stewart entirely.

"Deb Haaland has proudly touted Senator Stewart's endorsement, and she needs to remove it from her campaign website and social media immediately," Leader Sharer said. "If Senator Stewart has contributed any money to Secretary Haaland's campaign, that money should be returned without delay. New Mexicans deserve a governor's race built on trust, not one propped up by endorsements from a Democrat Senator who has brought shame to the New Mexico State Senate, abuses state employees, has documented ethics complaints with fellow lawmakers, and who has allegedly struck a pedestrian with their car and fled the scene. Deb, for once, do the right thing." 

CORRECTION: 092326

In regards to yesterday's press release: SENATE SCANDAL: Senate GOP Leader Slams Democrat Leader Mimi Stewart, Demands Immediate Removal & Calls on Deb Haaland to Denounce Endorsement, Return Campaign Funds.

The following statement was based upon reports, suspicions, and inquiries we had received prior to the police report going public: "Alleged in court documents, the victim claimed that Senator Stewart fled the scene of the incident, leaving the victim at the scene." We now acknowledge that Senator Stewart did not appear to leave the scene, though there are many unanswered questions about the incident, and our call for accountability for the Senator remains.

In light of new and emerging information, Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) has issued the following statement:

"Given Senator Stewart's demonstrated pattern of abusive and unbecoming behavior, we take such an influx of highly concerning allegations surrounding this incident very seriously. While some details remain unknown, we are glad that attention –and for the first time transparency– is being brought to this situation. New Mexicans deserve to know who the most powerful people running their state are and what those people are doing. Regardless, Senator Mimi Stewart has demonstrated conduct and behavior that we find unbecoming of a leadership position in the New Mexico State Senate.”