Free Republic

A prominent New Mexico Republican complained Thursday about a sendoff party for Manny Aragon, a former Democratic legislative leader who reports to federal prison next week. Pat Rogers, a New Mexico member of the Republican National Committee, said it was inappropriate to throw a party for Aragon, who faces a 5 1/2-year prison term after pleading guilty in an Albuquerque courthouse fraud scandal. "It makes me sick," said Rogers, an Albuquerque attorney. "I can't believe there are people who are so stupid, brazen or whatever ... who would go to a party for a person who epitomizes corruption."

Four people were indicted Thursday in an alleged kickback scheme that?s at the core of the debate over the firing of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. Former state Senate President Pro Tem Manny Aragon, Toby Martinez, Raul Parra and Sandra Mata Martinez all face charges. The U.S. attorney?s office in Albuquerque says Marc Schiff, Ken Schultz and Manuel Guara had already entered guilty pleas in the case. Investigators say the kickbacks were related to the construction of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse in Albuquerque. Iglesias believes he was fired as the federal prosecutor for New Mexico for resisting pressure from Senator...

Recently retired U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici is the focus of a federal grand jury investigation of the U.S. attorney scandal, along with several Bush White House officials, according to an online report Wednesday in TPM Muckraker. However, Domenici's attorney on Wednesday denied the retired Republican senator is at the center of the investigation. "The investigation exists, but it's not focused on Senator Domenici to the exclusion of others," Washington lawyer Lee Blalack told a reporter. According to the Muckraker report, the grand jury is investigating whether Domenici and others tried to improperly press former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to bring...

SANTA FE, N.M. - Democratic presidential hopeful Gov. Bill Richardson received $35,000 in contributions to his 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial campaigns from key figures in a public corruption scandal in New Mexico, including some who have pleaded guilty to federal charges, records show. When told by The Associated Press of the contributions, a Richardson campaign official said Monday the money would be given to charity. "We're totaling it up, and any money from any of these individuals, the governor will donate to charities," said Amanda Cooper, Richardson's deputy campaign manager. Federal prosecutors announced the indictments and plea agreements last week....

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic presidential hopeful, said Friday he is troubled and saddened by the latest public corruption scandal to hit New Mexico. Named in a federal indictment Thursday was Manny Aragon, a former state senator who once was among New Mexico's most powerful politicians. Aragon and three others are accused of conspiring, laundering money and committing mail fraud in a scheme that authorities say cost state taxpayers $4.2 million. "Regardless of the guilt or innocence, these indictments are very troubling," Richardson said Friday. "I'm saddened too because Sen. Aragon has had a distinguished...

4 in N.M. charged with corruption ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A former state senator and three other people were charged with corruption Thursday in a highly politicized case that a former federal prosecutor told Congress he believes led to his firing.A federal grand jury accused former New Mexico Senate President Pro Tem Manny Aragon and the others of conspiring to skim $4.2 million in public funds meant for construction of a county courthouse.David Iglesias, one of eight U.S. attorneys fired late last year, told Congress this month that he rejected what he believed to be pressure from U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici...