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Mexican New Mexico secretary of state pleads not guilty to fraud charges linked to campaign funds

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SANTA FE, N.M. — One of New Mexico's highest-ranking officials 
pleaded not guilty Tuesday to fraud, embezzlement and other 
charges after being accused of funneling campaign contributions 
to her personal bank accounts and withdrawing large sums of 
money at casinos around the state.

Two-term Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran sat silently 
next to her attorney, who entered the pleas on her behalf in 
state district court. It marked her first public appearance 
since the charges were leveled in a 64-count complaint more than 
two weeks ago.

They have sent shockwaves through political circles and raised 
questions about enforcement of the state's election and campaign 
finance reporting laws.

Duran and her lawyer slipped out a back door at the courthouse 
after the arraignment. Television cameras pursued them, but they 
refused to comment.

Under conditions of release set by the judge, Duran will be 
allowed to perform duties related to her position despite 
prosecutors' requests that she not have access to private or 
public funds. However, Duran has been a no-show at her $85,000-a-
year elected post with the exception of some conference calls 
with staff.

"She's still the sitting secretary of state," her attorney, 
Erlinda Johnson, told the judge. "She is presumed innocent. She 
has not been convicted of any offense."

Johnson sought to have many of the charges dismissed, arguing 
about jurisdiction and saying that Duran's rights to due process 
were being violated. The judge denied the motions.

Calls for Duran to resign continue, and state lawmakers on 
Tuesday approved up to $250,000 in state funds to investigate 
the charges as part of impeachment proceedings. Duran has been 
silent, making no statements since she was charged.

The complaint filed by the state attorney general's office stems 
from a confidential tip received last year.

The case has prompted disappointment and frustration among 
voters, political observers say.

"We have no idea how to measure the impact, but the general 
effect is one of disillusionment with government and politics," 
said Christine Sierra, an emeritus professor of political 
science at the University of New Mexico.

Duran tapped into those same feelings of voter frustration to 
craft her platform when she first ran for secretary of state in 
2010. A native of the southern New Mexico village of Tularosa, 
she wanted to turn around an office that had been the focus of 
federal investigations and was known for being dysfunctional.

One of only a handful of Latina women in the nation to hold a 
statewide office, Duran has spent most of her life in public 
service. She worked her way up from a technician in the Otero 
County Clerk's Office to the New Mexico Senate, where she served 
for 18 years.

She also was the first Republican elected to the New Mexico 
secretary of state's office in more than 80 years. Despite stiff 
competition from a Democrat, she was re-elected in 2014.

Duran's reputation as a lawmaker and later as the state's top 
elections official never raised any flags.

Former Republican state lawmaker Janice Arnold Jones 
characterized the current allegations as a "personal fall from 
grace" during a recent call-in show on KUNM radio.

"It appears to me this is truly a gambling problem and there 
were personal choices, but it really didn't have anything to do 
with her ability to do the job in office," she said.

It's no doubt a credibility issue for Duran, but observers say 
the bigger question now is whether the case will spur lawmakers 
to take on reforms that have long proven to be elusive, such as 
the creation of a state ethics commission and tougher 
enforcement of campaign finance laws.

Duran's next hearing was set for Oct. 23. It could be December 
before she returns to court for a preliminary hearing, when it 
would be decided if there's enough evidence for the case to move 
forward.

http://www.startribune.com/new-mexico-secretary-of-state-due-in-
court-on-fraud-charges/327633401/

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Mexican New Mexico secretary of state pleads not guilty to fraud charges linked to campaign funds "Halt Immigration" <no.more.immigration@hillaryclinton.com> - 2015-09-16 06:24 +0200
  Re: Mexican New Mexico secretary of state pleads not guilty to fraud charges linked to campaign funds "Clave" <ChrisClavius@TheMonastery.com> - 2015-09-15 21:34 -0700
    Re: Mexican New Mexico secretary of state pleads not guilty to fraud charges linked to campaign funds Office <office@worldinphoto.net> - 2015-09-16 05:45 +0100
      Re: Mexican New Mexico secretary of state pleads not guilty to fraud charges linked to campaign funds "Clave" <ChrisClavius@TheMonastery.com> - 2015-09-15 21:48 -0700

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