News

Alleged MLG groping witness says governor ‘represents the very best’ of NM

On Tuesday, longtime Michelle Lujan Grisham ally, former business partner, and retiring state Rep. Debbie Armstrong claimed the scandal-ridden alleged sexual predator governor is the “very best” of New Mexico.

“Gov. Lujan Grisham is committed to leading New Mexico toward a brighter future. Every single day, she does everything she can to improve the lives of our families, friends, and neighbors. Over her nearly three years in office, I’ve been so proud of everything Gov. Lujan Grisham has accomplished,” the lawmaker claimed in a fundraising email for Lujan Grisham’s reelection.

Despite the failures of the Lujan Grisham regime other than the constant scandals involving misusing campaign and taxpayer dollars, the Governor has racked up some of the worst statistics for New Mexico, including our failing energy grid with the implementation of the Green New Deal, the lowest child wellbeing rate in the nation, high unemployment rates, among other failures.

Armstrong, who previously was in business with Lujan Grisham at “Delta Consulting,” reportedly grifted the people of New Mexico by upcharging the sick in the state’s high-risk insurance pool despite Obamacare effectively making the program obsolete. 

Armstrong was reportedly a witness to the sexual assault allegedly carried out by Lujan Grisham upon a former staffer, James Hallinan. Gov. Lujan Grisham paid off Hallinan over $150,000 in hush money following him coming forward. We previously reported: 

He claims this assault happened during a senior staff meeting held at Representative Deborah Armstrong’s (D-Bernalillo) home in the summer of 2018…. Hallinan claimed then-U.S. Rep. Lujan Grisham “took a water bottle and dumped it on my crotch and then slapped and grabbed me in front of everybody.” 

But despite all the scandal and the failures, Armstrong claims Lujan Grisham “represents the very best of our state. It’s hardworking, kind New Mexicans like her that make me so proud to call this state my home.” 

Gov. Lujan Grisham is up for reelection in 2022, facing off against seven Republicans, including businesswoman Karen Bedonie, Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block, state Rep. Rebecca Dow, Right to Life of New Mexico executive director Ethel Maharg, businessman Louie Sanchez, former Gary Johnson staffer Tim Walsh, and financier Greg Zanetti. Note: These candidates have been listed in alphabetical order.

[SHOP: MLG IS A SEXUAL PREDATOR” collection available now in the Piñon Post store.]

Far-left ‘social justice’ group at UNM disbanding

On Monday, it was reported by the University of New Mexico’s (UNM) student-run far-left paper that the “social justice” group, “Fight For Our Lives” at UNM, was shutting down, effective on October 2.

According to the report, “FFOL was focused on advocating for gun violence prevention in 2018, seeking climate crisis action in 2019 and creating ABQ Mutual Aid in 2020, according to FFOL co-founder Jonathon Juarez-Alonzo. He said on social media that the decision to dissolve the organization was a tough one and that ‘all good things must come to an end.’” 

Apparently, the group was formed as an offshoot of the fringe David Hogg group “March For Our Lives” to push for anti-gun legislation that would disarm the American public in 2018.

“There’s no one reason why we’re dissolving,” Juarez-Alonzo claimed. “It’s really (that) everyone has their own life situations that are keeping them from their commitments to the work.” 

Former vice-president of the group, Emil Phan, said FFOL served as a vessel for community outreach and positive change, and “opened the doors for endless possibilities,” even with its dissolution.  

The report notes that Juarez-Alonzo “said they worked to develop ABQ Mutual Aid in 2020, which is a collective of organizers that seeks to fulfill basic human needs during the pandemic, such as distributing hygiene products and groceries. Juarez-Alonzo said ABQ Mutual Aid, while a separate entity from FFOL, holds many of the same values and missions and is an ongoing effort that has served over 60,000 community members. ABQ Mutual Aid, like FFOL, is fiscally sponsored by the Southwest Organizing Project.”

“Mutual Aid” is a framework of anarchical communism that presents a scientific basis for communism as an alternative to the “historical materialism” of the Marxists. It is an offshoot of social Darwinism. 

The dissolution of the fringe group is just the latest far-left organization disbanding amid internal turmoil. Other national Marxist groups, such as Black Lives Matter, have had similar issues, with infighting and extremism pushing them to the breaking points. 

Piñon Post demands Dems speak out amid MLG groping scandal or they are complicit

On Monday, Piñon Post editor John Block sent a letter to high-ranking New Mexico Democratic Party officials and lawmakers demanding accountability for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s alleged groping of multiple men, including that of James Hallinan, which resulted in her paying him $150,000 in hush money.

The Piñon Post is calling for high-ranking officials, including legislative, congressional, statewide, and Democratic Party of New Mexico leaders, to denounce Lujan Grisham or else they are complicit in perpetuating sexual violence.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo faced bipartisan pushback against his alleged sexual abuse, of which he never paid off his accusers like Lujan Grisham. But Lujan Grisham said regarding Cuomo in March 2021, “I’m, frankly, in that group of elected leaders, that you believe the individual, you give real credit and credibility there, if you don’t, we are revictimizing brave men and women who come forward.” 

The Piñon Post is demanding Lujan Grisham live by her own standard and not revictimize these men who have accused her by remaining in office to perpetuate more violence upon the people of New Mexico.

“New Mexico Democrats must hold Michelle Lujan Grisham accountable or else they, too are complicit in covering up sexual assault victims’ voices,” said Block.

“There is absolutely no excuse — not one — to justify the governor’s depraved behavior and her subsequent gagging of accusers with hush-money payments from her campaign account. New Mexico Democrats must bravely stand up against Michelle Lujan Grisham and call for her immediate resignation,” he added. “The time for action is now.” 

Read the letter sent to the lawmakers here. 

MLG points fingers to defend her abuse of power

According to a new report, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is trying to defend her abuse of power by unilateral spending of hundreds of millions of federal funds during the pandemic, which has sparked a lawsuit from two lawmakers, a Democrat, and a Republican.

The Governor’s chief general counsel Holly Agajanian claimed “precedent” gave Lujan Grisham sole authority to blow  $1.7 billion in federal monies, while also saying, “unallocated dollars from the federal American Rescue Plan Act are currently in a suspense account – not the state treasury – [meaning] the Legislature lacks the legal reach to earmark the money,” according to the Albuquerque Journal.

“In short, the ARPA funds are not subject to appropriation because they are not ‘in the treasury,’ ” Agajanian argued.

Sens. Greg Baca (R-Valencia) and Jacob Candelaria (D-Bernalillo), both attorneys, argued the case as a “constitutional emergency of generational importance.”

Democrat State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg reaffirmed the two lawmakers’ arguments in a filing requested by the Supreme Court on his agency’s opinion of the matter dealing a crippling blow to Lujan Grisham’s argument.

But Agajanian tried to point the finger back at legislators who don’t approve of Lujan Grisham’s lawless spending. “It would be just as much of a violation of [the] separation of powers to intrude on the governor’s executive managerial function to administer federal funds in the state’s custody,” she claimed.

Lujan Grisham has spent millions of these critical federal dollars to bribe New Mexicans to get inoculated, with a $10 million lottery, $100 stipends for shots at certain points in the pandemic, and ​​$5 million to incentivize New Mexicans to stay home and not work — a move that is crushing the economy and fueling a staffing shortage. 

Despite the Governor’s office claiming it is meeting with lawmakers to discuss spending the remainder of the federal cash, she hasn’t specified who she is speaking with and what proposals such conversations would be about. 

The Governor is currently embroiled in a sexual assault scandal, where she paid a former staffer, James Hallinan, $150,000 in hush money from her campaign after she was said to have poured water over his crotch and then groped him. Another man came forward in 2018 alleging similar conduct from Lujan Grisham. She is also under investigation by the State Ethics Commission due to a complaint by Piñon Post founder and editor John Block over Lujan Grisham spending over $8,000 in donors’ funds for paying her daughter for hair and makeup.

Far-left lawmaker who party leaders told to ‘f**k off’ not running for reelection

State Sen. Jacob Candelaria (D-Bernalillo), announced he will not be seeking another term in the chamber in 2024 after about a year of tumultuous outbursts by the senator, along with many squabbles with his party leaders.

“It’s been a beautiful chapter — it’s been incredibly rewarding — but it’s also incredibly demanding,” Candelaria told the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Candelaria, a lawyer, is a far-left extremist who marched with violent anti-police rioters in the streets of Albuquerque during the George Floyd riots and then offered to represent anyone arrested during the lawlessness. 

The lawmaker then erroneously claimed his life was in danger due to one constituent calling him with harsh words. He called the police and berated them in his home. He then threatened to call Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on them before kicking them out in an act of disrespect. Lujan Grisham won’t take the dramatic lawmaker’s calls or support his legislation. She previously ordained Candelaria and his husband in marriage.

After Candelaria kicked out the police officers who were trying to help, in an ultimate sign of disrespect, he then claimed to have PTSD from the encounter, despite him being the reason for all the drama.

Then, during the pandemic, while New Mexicans were losing their jobs and small businesses were going under due to Lujan Grisham’s edicts, of which Candelaria approved, Candelaria bragged on social media about purchasing luxury goods from a French fashion house, Hermés. 

During the 2021 Legislative Session, Candelaria bashed Judiciary Chair Joseph Cervantes (D-Doña Ana) for not taking up Candelaria’s radical legislative priorities over the priorities of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Far-left group ProgressNow New Mexico even went after Candelaria for his tantrums:

During consideration of S.B. 71, the Patients’ Debt Collection Protection Act, Candelaria forced a debate on the bill, which led Democrat Majority Leader Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe) to scold him on the floor of the Senate. 

“Why don’t you just f**k off and put an amendment on like the rest of us?” said Wirth. 

After the altercation, It was reported by the Santa Fe New Mexican that Candelaria started crying and claiming it was a “low day” for the New Mexico Senate: 

“I’m sort of heartbroken,” claimed Candelaria, who sat slouched in his chair in tears after the confrontation. “This is a low day for the New Mexico Senate.”

Now, Candelaria will not have to worry any longer about the veracity of the state Senate, as he will be gone from the chamber come 2025 when a new member is elected following a redistricting process that will be finalized later this year.

Redistricting Committee approves radical far-left U.S. House map, two other concepts

On Friday afternoon, the Citizens Redistricting Committee convened to discuss and vote on the final maps the Committee would be advancing to the Legislature. There was much debate on multiple map concepts, especially regarding the map proposed by a far-left group called the Center for Civic Policy (CCP), which would partisanly gerrymander the district into Democrats’ hands — robbing conservative and rural voters of a voice in Congress. The map passed the committee by a vote of 5-2.

During the discussion, Map Concept A, which is a map that does not make radical changes to the current congressional delegation, was lauded by Members Christopher Saucedo and Ryan Cangiolosi, who noted how a majority of comments submitted were against radical and extreme changes.

Leftist Member Lisa Curtis, who despite claiming to not support a “radical” change to the map concepts, said, “I’m concerned about the Hispanic voting-age population percentage in A.” However, the Hispanic population changes she claims exist only vary by around one percent from other maps.

Member Michael Sanchez claimed, “For thirty years, New Mexico has done nothing but the status quo,” advocating against Concept A. Regarding Concepts A, B, and C, which do not make radical changes, Sanchez said, “These three maps appear to me to be very little chance and are we really looking at moving our state forward in terms of the maps?”

Curtis claimed, “We are sort of abdicating our responsibility by just putting a status quo map,” despite the Commission being formed to make fair maps — not extreme maps, as she is advocating for. She claimed, “I am not … concerned about the Legislature.”

Far-left former “community activist” Member Joaquín Sanchez said, “I don’t know if I want to give options that are easy for the Legislature.” 

Concept A ended up passing the Committee by a vote of 4-3, with Members Cangiolosi, Chavez, Saucedo, and Rhatigan supporting it, while both Sanchez’s and Curtis opposing the maps. 

The Committee then discussed Concept H, the extremist CCP map, which Member Curtis ferociously defended. 

“I don’t think this is overreaching the Hispanic voting-age population by any stretch,” claimed Curtis. Saucedo made many arguments against it, for multiple reasons, including it splitting nine counties while splitting the Albuquerque metro area and Hobbs. 

“I have spent more time deliberating on this map myself than any other map,” said Member Rhatigan. “I do have concerns with the splitting of that community of interest — southwest New Mexico — splitting it not two ways, but three ways. And the same thing happens to the Albuquerque area.” 

“As a resident of Albuquerque, I have a concern that none of my representatives could be from Albuquerque,” added Rhatigan. 

Member Cangiolosi added, “I am a strong ‘no’ vote.” The Committee then went on to discuss other maps before coming back around to the CCP map. The map ended up passing by a vote of 5-2, with Cangiolosi and Saucedo being the only “no” votes. 

Regarding the Native American consensus map, it drew wide concern. “What does to the rest of the state is a little bit concerning,” said Rhatigan. The Committee voted not to advance the map due to no consensus by pueblos.

Justice Chavez proposed a map, which is what appears to be a compromise proposal that doesn’t make too radical of a change, was then brought up for discussion.  

“I actually see Justice Chaves’s map… to be a pretty good rendition of status quo with influence by the things we heard, and without controversy,” Curtis said. “There is zero radical about that map.” The Chavez map passed by a wide consensus. It appeared to have a 6-1 vote. The congressional maps still must go through a partisan review by the Committee.

Members Saucedo and Curtis, among others, had a lively discussion regarding state House districts and the appropriate deviation between the districts to pass scrutiny. Curtis opted for a higher percentage closer to 10 percent deviation while Saucedo and Cangiolosi opted for a lower deviation closer to five percent. Discussion is ongoing for state Senate maps.

The motion was made to advance map Concept A1 and not A, with a vote of 6-1, with Candiolosi voting against it.  Concept C was advanced by Member Cangiolosi, who made the motion. The vote on the concept was 4-3, with Members Curtis and both Sanchez’s voting “no.” Concept C1 was advanced by Member Curtis with a vote of 6-2, with Saucedo and Cangiolosi voting against it.

Public Education Commission (PEC) Concept A was forwarded by Member Rhadigan to the Legislature, with a vote of 7-0. The Navajo Nation’s PEC map was advanced with a vote of 6-0, with MemberJoaquín Sanchez abstaining. Concept C was advanced by the Committee on a vote of 7-0. 

The Committee will meet to discuss state House concepts next Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.

Judge tosses lawsuit against LANL mandate: Get jabbed or ‘find work somewhere else’

On Friday, state District Judge Jason Lidyard denied a request to block a vaccination order by Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL) primary contractor, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

“No one is sticking a needle in anyone’s arm,” Lidyard claimed. “All that is being said is, if you don’t get vaccinated, you must find work somewhere else.” The order clears LANL to fire employees for not getting inoculated.

According to the report, Lidyard “ruled the attorneys representing roughly three dozen lab employees failed to present arguments that meet the criteria for suspending the vaccine mandate.”

Employees of Triad National Security LLC have until 4 p.m. on Friday to prove they have been jabbed or face termination. The report said, “Triad set the deadline in August after the coronavirus’ faster-spreading delta variant caused a surge in cases in the state and throughout the country.”

Sandia Labs employees speak out against vaccine mandate threats

In a 15-minute Rumble video posted by a page called “Sandia National Labs Workers for Freedom,” ten Sandia National Labs (SNL) workers spoke out against the vaccine mandate threatening their jobs and livelihoods. Coercive measures are in place, with little access to exemptions and much hostility reported in the workplace. 

Here is one testimony from a Sandia worker:

I have worked at Sandia Labs serving our nation for over seven years. I had intended to work at Sandia for a very long time, possibly until retirement. In the past, I had felt that Sandia valued its employees and their families. One of Sandia’s core values is we respect each other and I quote: ‘Respect is at the core of everything we do. We respect our mission and build trusted relationships with our clients, stakeholders, and each other. We engage today’s talent, bring together diverse perspectives, and recognize that all members of the workforce contribute to the success of the labs. Our diversity of culture, experiences, and beliefs make us better.’… Sandia has not been living up to this value.

Increasingly, it has become a hostile workplace where differing views are not welcome. Those who ask questions or attempt scientific discussion that disagrees with the majority view are met with outright hostility. How is this valuing diversity, how is it inclusion, how is it even science if we are not able to discuss differing research and viewpoints? When the laboratory can mandate that an employee can submit to an unwanted medical procedure or face termination, this is not respect. This is not valuing or listening to your employees. 

When an associate labs director can dismiss and mock those with differing viewpoints when she makes judgments as to which religions may be entitled to their legally protected right to an accommodation, that is not inclusion, it is discrimination. It is discrimination that threatens the livelihood of employees who thought that they were valued. It threatens their ability to provide for their children. It threatens my ability to provide for my children. That is not diversity, it is not inclusion, and it certainly is not respect. 

One employee said, “I may lose my job, but the loss of talent and critical knowledge that is our nation’s security is a far greater concern. I will always serve our nation and my countrymen. Please join us and help us fight back against this flagrant tyranny.” 

Another employee claimed the labs are working without “integrity” and are promoting “division” among the workforce.

Some employees have already faced termination amid the vaccine mandate. One employee recounted his story. During the termination meeting, the human resources person told him, “‘I’m sorry man.’ And I said, ‘Well, I feel like a million bucks because I stood up for what I believe is right.’” He said a prayer after being fired over the mandate, praying, “Father, give me justice.”

Watch the full video of all the employees and their stories here:

At the Los Alamos National Labs (LANL), Friday is firing day for those who have not gotten an approved exemption or have not taken the inoculation.

Finance report: MLG received $10.4K from Pelosi, paid daughter more cash for cosmetics

The Washington, D.C. swamp is coming to bat for scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as she fights to stay in power following a calamitous tenure. Other than an economic catastrophe caused by Lujan Grisham leading to at least 40% of small businesses being crushed, millions of dollars have vanished from public agencies and her administration has seen some of the highest turnover in state history, with over 24 cabinet members jumping ship.

Now, as she faces tough opposition from seven declared Republican candidates who aim to take her out, Lujan Grisham’s buddies in Washington are coming to her rescue. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) gave the Governor a maxed-out donation of $10,400 from her reelection fund, while Democrat Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) gave Lujan Grisham $2,500 from his campaign account. 

Rep. Filemon Vela, Jr. (D-TX) gave Lujan Grisham $10,000, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) gave her $1,000, Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) gave her $1,000, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) gave her $1,000, while Rep. Mark Veasey (D-TX) gave her $1,000. Attorney General Hector Balderas’ political campaign gave her $10,400 and Gov. J.R. Pritzker (D-IL) gave her two donations of $10,400. 

Big PhRMA gave Lujan Grisham $5,000, Johnson & Johnson PAC gave her $5,000, Deloitte Political Action Committee gave her $10,000, marijuana company owned by former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White PurLife gave her $10,000, $10,400, $10,400, and $10,400 in four apparently separate accounts, the Bregman Law Firm gave her $10,400, The Bregman Livestock Company gave her $10,400, Keller and Keller gave her $1,000, Garcia Infinity and Garcia Subaru donated $10,400, respectively, while the pro-abortion group EMILY’s List gave her $9,400. 

Marathon Oil gave Lujan Grisham $4,600 and $10,400, despite the Governor being rabidly anti-oil and gas and signing New Mexico’s Green New Deal, the “Energy Transition Act.” 

The Democrat Governors Association (DGA), which Lujan Grisham chairs, gave her two donations of $10,400, which appears to be a conflict of interest since she apparently has oversight on the DGA’s expenditures, which just so happen to benefit her. 

Also included in this report is a donation of $480 to her daughter’s beauty endeavor “Beauty by Erin Grisham,” but the expense is listed as “office expenses.” Piñon Post founder and editor John Block filed an ethics complaint in May against the Governor for her use of campaign funds for hair and makeup — a direct violation of state law. In previous campaign reports, Lujan Grisham listed the hair and makeup payments as “media preparation.” 

In a June 1, 2021, sworn affidavit from Dominic Gabello, Lujan Grisham’s former staffer and campaign consultant, he claimed the latest payment of $480 in April was for the Governor’s State of the State address, which does not appear to fall in line with the purported description of the expenditure, which the Governor’s campaign reported as “office expenses.” 

The Ethics Commission has yet to make a final determination on the ethics complaint, but Lujan Grisham had multiple setbacks after the Commission characterized her lawyer’s arguments defending the misuse of funds as “unconvincing,” denying the campaign’s request for a dismissal of the complaint. 

Lujan Grisham paid $150,000 in campaign funds to a sexual accuser, James Hallinan, who said she poured water over his crotch and then groped him. She claims to be innocent, but most innocent people do not pay off their sexual accusers in hush money, especially to the tune of hundreds of thousands of donors’ money.

Dem state treasurer has bad news for MLG in spending authority case

In a rare move, Democrat State Auditor Tim Eichenberg, who is term-limited in his current position, is siding with two lawmakers over Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham regarding the Governor’s spending of over $600,000 federal dollars that came through the “American Recovery Plan Act.” She spent the federal cash without the Legislature’s approval.

In September, state Sens. Jacob Candelaria (D-Bernalillo) and Greg Baca (R-Valencia) teamed up to sue Lujan Grisham over the misuse of funds.

In a written response ordered by the state Supreme Court, an attorney for Eichenberg, Linda Bennett, asserted that the expenditure of virus relief funds does, indeed, require legislative approval.

Bennett said, “Under the state constitution, only the Legislature has appropriation authority.” 

“The Legislature should have appropriation authority over the funds and then … the governor should get a bill that appropriates the money, and she has the opportunity to veto it or sign it into law. That’s what’s supposed to happen under the constitution.” 

Bennett wrote that “governmental action or inaction as to any particular program, public policy initiative, or governmental interest must be subject to participation by New Mexico citizens through the legislative process in our participatory democracy.”

“That’s how you get the most public participation and accountability over the use of the funds,” said Bennett. “That’s what we want, and that’s what the founders envisioned because we have the same system of government in New Mexico as they have at the federal level. That’s how it’s supposed to work.”

But in response, Lujan Grisham’s spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett claimed, “Courts have previously made clear the Legislature may appropriate state, not federal, funds.”

According to a report from the Santa Fe New Mexican, “The state Supreme Court also ordered Lujan Grisham to respond to the lawsuit by Friday. The administration filed a motion Tuesday, which the court granted, allowing its response to be 12,000 words instead of the 6,000 words provided for under the rules.”

Scroll to Top