New Mexico governor Susana Martinez issued a statement in regards to a play-to-pay allegation against former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson Wednesday, saying “no one is above the law.”
“The indictment of a sitting judge on charges that he paid bribes for his judicial appointment and solicited bribes from another judicial candidate is deeply troubling,” Ms. Martinez said. “No one is above the law and this criminal defendant should not be given any special treatment.”
The New Mexico Republican’s comment comes as Mr. Richardson, who left office due to term limits in November of last year, is facing allegations relating the selection of New Mexico District Court Judge Mike Murphy. A grand jury indicted Murphy Friday on third-degree felony charges relating to demanding or receiving a bribe.
Mr. Richardson said any allegations are “outrageous and defamatory.”
“I appointed judges through an extensive process, including a thorough vetting first by the judicial nominating commission and then by my legal staff of the candidates that were nominated to me,” Mr. Richardson said in a statement.
“I personally interviewed every candidate and appointed based on merit. I appointed 113 judges, including several Republicans, and the general consensus in the legal community is that we selected excellent judges who had to prove themselves to voters in elections.”
