Santa Fe, NM — Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) today criticized Democrat Gubernatorial Nominee Deb Haaland and leading New Mexico Democrat officials for turning this week's federal law enforcement arrest of Edgar Chacon-Miranda in Santa Fe into a political spectacle, rather than addressing why a man with a serious criminal history, including charges for criminal sexual penetration and child abuse, remained free in a New Mexico community for years.
"Democrats once again choose political theater over public safety," said Sharer. "Instead of asking hard questions about how someone facing such serious charges slipped through the cracks of our justice system, they held a press conference to attack the federal agents doing their job. New Mexicans are tired of watching their leaders defend a system which intentionally enables situations like this to happen instead of doing anything to fix it."
According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Chacon-Miranda was arrested this week as part of a targeted enforcement operation, with DHS citing his arrest for battery against a household member, criminal sexual penetration, and child abuse. The Santa Fe District Attorney failed to prosecute him before the statute of limitations expired.
"Deb Haaland and her fellow far-left Democrats, in order to score political points, are coming to the defense of a man who allegedly raped his ex-girlfriend in front of her children… Let that sink in. This is exactly the kind of case that shows why radical-left soft-on-crime, sanctuary-style policies fail New Mexicans," Sharer continued. "When cases like this are never prosecuted, the people who pay the price are victims, their families, and the people of New Mexico. Immigration status doesn't change that. I appreciate ICE for doing what should have been done in the first place and taking this violent criminal off of our streets."
Senator Nicole Tobiassen (R-Albuquerque) pointed to what she called a troubling double-standard among some Democrats.
"For years, Deb Haaland and many of these same Democrats have positioned themselves as champions of the 'Me Too' movement, urging us all to believe survivors of sexual violence," said Tobiassen. "But the moment those allegations involve someone facing possible deportation, that concern seems to disappear. You don't get to pick and choose when victims need protecting. If we're serious about believing survivors, that has to apply consistently, not just when it's politically convenient."
Senate Republicans say the episode is part of a broader pattern of New Mexico Democrats changing the subject weeks before a general election that will decide the next governor and other statewide offices.
"New Mexicans see through this," Sharer said. "They know our state has struggled for years on crime, education, and government accountability. Manufacturing outrage over federal law enforcement doing its job won't change that record, and voters this November won't forget it."
*The provided criminal complaint has redactions in order to protect the identity of the victim.
