SANTA FE, NM – House Republican Whip Alan Martinez (R-Rio Rancho) has formally filed an ethics complaint with legislative leadership over Rep. Andrea Romero's (D-Santa Fe) employment with the First Judicial District Attorney's Office while simultaneously serving as a member of the New Mexico Legislature.
The complaint raises potential violations of NMSA §§ 2-1-3, 2-1-4 and 2-1-5, which address compensation involving legislators and state employment and carry felony penalties for violations.
A member of the public has also filed a separate complaint with the State Ethics Commission regarding Romero's state employment.
Whip Martinez is calling on Romero to immediately release the full AG legal opinion she says she relied upon before accepting the state employee position. To date, Romero has only released selected excerpts to the media.
"Representative Romero must immediately release the full AG legal opinion she says gave her the green light to take this state position," Whip Martinez said. "She does not get to hide behind selective excerpts while serious legal and ethical questions remain unanswered."
Separately, Romero serves as co-chair of the Interim Legislative Ethics Committee, raising questions about how any legislative ethics review involving her will be handled.
Martinez has also asked Attorney General Raúl Torrez to investigate whether Romero's employment and compensation violate state law. That request also asks the Attorney General to investigate the role First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies played in authorizing or facilitating Romero's employment and compensation.
