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| Damon Martinez |
The DA’s handling of this corruption case is just another example of why Bernalillo County can’t afford to have someone with less than five years of experience as a prosecutor. . .Bregman is jeopardizing potential cases against other perpetrators by announcing the case to the world. . .and to continue what appears to be his main priority, campaigning. Then he refers all questions to the US Attorney’s office, deflecting his responsibility to the voters he was appointed to serve.
As a career prosecutor and the former US Attorney for NM. . .I would have led a thorough investigation in order to ensure that none of the now-dismissed cases couldn’t be prosecuted without these officers. For the cases that couldn’t move forward, I would have filed motions to dismiss, but without all of the pomp and circumstance. In doing so, I would have avoided notifying every attorney and police officer in the city that they may be under investigation, and, subsequently, removed the chance to destroy evidence that they now have, thanks to Bregman’s affinity for attention.
As US attorney Martinez was deeply involved in APD and his most recent job was actually at the ABQ police department. That could be a contentious entanglement for him as the campaign develops. Here's a report from when he was hired in 2018:
Martinez, who helped lead the DOJ efforts to get APD to agree to a reform effort and settlement agreement, has been hired as a full-time employee by APD. Martinez will be responsible for helping APD write policies that are not related to the DOJ settlement agreement that he helped negotiate with APD in 2014, said APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos. He [Martinez] will have several duties related to policy development that is not tied to the settlement agreement.". . .
Shawn Willoughby, president of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, said that, if what Gallegos said about Martinez's duties is true, the former U.S. attorney will be writing policies about how cops wear their uniforms and take-home cars. "Its concerning for the APOA that the administration would find it beneficial to hire an attorney who doesn't have any extensive police policy writing in his background to deal with policies that aren't related to the consent decree," Willoughby said. "We are talking about policies that are very benign and that should be written and overseen by chief of police and his command staff.
BREGMAN HITS BACK
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| DA Bregman |
Statement from DA Bregman on Martinez criticism:
It is very easy for Mr. Martinez to pontificate on everything he claims our office is doing wrong from the sidelines. My job as District Attorney is to ensure equal and fair justice for all cases that come into our office.
Apparently, Mr. Martinez’s new job is to criticize the work of our office in an attempt to score political points. I would have hoped that a former federal prosecutor would have understood why we cannot go into further detail about an ongoing federal investigation.
Unlike Mr. Martinez, it is my ethical duty as the District Attorney to uphold the highest standards of fairness and justice. While he was a senior advisor for the Albuquerque Police Department, exactly what measures did Mr. Martinez put in place to address this situation?
Over the past year, I have had to make some difficult decisions. I can promise the people of Bernalillo County that every decision I have made, has been with their best interest and well-being at heart. Mr. Martinez’s blatant grandstanding shows one indisputable fact: His decisions are made with his political interests at heart.
COUNCIL REACT
At their meeting last night the scandal was not lost on the nine member city council, two of whom are former APD officers, including freshly elected Dan Champine of far NE Heights District 8.
He was especially put out by the Keller administration for not notifying the councilors of the federal investigation of APD launched by the FBI and under the supervision of US Attorney Alexander Uballez.
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| Champine |
Councilor Louie Sanchez, a former cop and a Democrat often highly critical of the administration, blamed the scandal on a "lack of leadership" in the city but fell short of calling for the resignation of APD Chief Harold Medina.
Meanwhile, a higher up in the administration tells us the Feds take down of the alleged DWI scheme is a political hit but believe as more information is disclosed this week it will be clear that the scandal is not going to blow up further.
A city spokeswoman last night told the council the cases "go back a decade" and involve "a handful of officers" and communications in such a sensitive investigation is "challenging."
The council questioning of the administration is here and begins at 28:00.
KELLER SPEAKS
Mayor Keller broke his silence on the scandal on Twitter during the council session, saying:
While we can’t discuss the details of the investigation into a group of officers, we take these allegations very seriously. Our administration will hold all bad actors accountable, and @ABQPOLICE will continue to work closely with the FBI on the investigation.
BIG BUCKS
Freelance journalist Charles Arasim is on the APD beat and comes with this:
Newly obtained information puts APD Lieutenant Justin Hunt as one of the officers that had their home raided by the FBI last week. Hunt hit #1 on the list of the 250 top earners for the city of ABQ in 2023. He bagged $256,908.66 on a base pay of $99,070.40. Is there yet another overtime scandal brewing here as well?
A scandal "brewing?" Doesn't that outrageous paycheck qualify as one?
PIRTLE ROASTED
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| McKenize Luna |
Pirtle, 38, in divorce proceedings with his wife with whom he has three children, was caught cheating in April of 2023. His affair was with young Senate staffer, McKenzie Luna, now 20, the mother of their child.
Last year Luna denied to the media any affair with Pirtle but the affair was confirmed by her presence last week on the Senate floor.
Roundhouse insiders report Luna was on staff to Sen. Crystal Diamond Brantley of Elephant Butte when she took up with the senator who hails from a prominent Roswell farming family.
No Senators have spoken out over Pirtle's affair with a Senate employee even though he was in a powerful position above her.
Senate Minority Leader Greg Baca is among those in a cone of silence, even though critics point out he could easily endorse Rep. Candy Ezzell who is running for the Pirtle seat in the GOP primary and send a clear message that Pirtle's behavior is not tolerated by the Senate GOP caucus.
Reader Carol had a not untypical reaction:
Joe, Thank you! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your coverage of the philandering Cliff Pirtle. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who was absolutely reviled at his audacity to introduce his former employee and partner, McKenzie Luna, along with their newborn child on the Senate Floor! Talk about a ballsy move.
He has shamed himself, his family (his dad didn't look happy or proud), his constituents, and the important position he was elected to uphold. He was elected to represent his district, not to f. . . around with a 20-year old staff member. How dare him think this all "blew over." Thanks for letting him know that it didn't.
Reader John Rey writes:
Hello Joe, Ms. Luna's situation can be called the Immaculate Deception, but like another Republican, Senator Pete Domenici, Pirtle was only doing what good old Saint Pete did, all with no repercussions. Heck, Pete even scored a courthouse named after him!
The "Immaculate Deception." They're on fire out there.
And that is all for now from "As The Roundhouse Turns. . . "
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024