New Mexico’s Democratic attorney general on Friday charged Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran with embezzlement, fraud, money laundering and campaign finance violations, further widening a rift between the two over enforcement of the state’s laws governing campaigns.
Attorney General Hector Balderas’ office filed the 64-count complaint late Friday in state district court in Santa Fe. Balderas did not make a statement or hold a news conference to announce the complaint against Duran, one of the highest-ranking Republicans in the state.
Balderas spokesman James Hallinan said the office would not be releasing any information beyond the court filing. “Our office will proceed transparently by way of preliminary hearing,” he said.