Despite Piñon Post’s bombshell story on former Spaceport America chief financial officer Zach DeGregorio in which he alleges in a whistleblower suit over $200 million in fraud by Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the mainstream media has been largely silent on the story.
The Santa Fe New Mexicanreported on the story but did not go over the “extortion, bribery, illegal drug use, sex discrimination, procurement fraud, securities fraud, and multiple violations of federal law,” as alleged by DeGregorio.
The Las Cruces Sun-News report focused on what DeGriego calls a “deeply flawed” report from the accounting firm, McHard, which he alleges inaccurately made a report about the malfeasance.
The News-Sun wrote, “McHard’s November 2020 report scrutinized De Gregorio’s activities as well, alleging that he assisted Hicks in circumventing procurement code, evading internal controls and it recommended investigating possible violations of professional standards for certified public accountants.”
“In the complaint, De Gregorio alleges he faced retaliation after submitting his report to the governor’s office and the state Economic Development Department, which oversees the New Mexico Spaceport Authority,” the leftist paper’s report notes. It largely stayed away from mentioning Lujan Grisham, who is a key figure in the complaint.
KKOB’s Eric Strauss spoke about the complaint and Piñon Post’s report on his Tuesday radio show.
No other mainstream media networks, including KOB, KRQE, KOAT, the Albuquerque Journal, nor any others covered the news.
UPDATE: KOB 4 finally made a short report on DeGregorio’s complaint, which was based largely on the Santa Fe New Mexican’s story.
On Monday, Zach DeGriego, the former Chief Financial Officer of Spaceport America from December 21, 2015, to June 21, 2020, announced he had filed a civil complaint in the First Judicial District Court against Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham over an alleged fraud of $200 million.
“I’ve never spoken about this publicly until now, but the continued retaliation from New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and her staff has forced me to make this statement to set the record straight,” DeGriego said in a video statement.
“Many of you know I was the former chief financial officer of Spaceport America in New Mexico. I left that position after making multiple whistleblower complaints. I was forced to resign when I had to choose between keeping my job and committing crimes. After the governor and her staff got rid of me they have done everything in their power to retaliate against me and destroy my life to keep me silent.”
“At the same time, they proceeded to violate multiple federal laws. Today, I have filed a lawsuit against the State of New Mexico for violations of the New Mexico whistleblower protection act and malfeasance by the state auditor. The complaint names 21 individuals who participated in a conspiracy including leaders at the highest levels of state government including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Attorney General Hector Balderas, New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colón, Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia Keys, and current managers at Spaceport America.”
“The complaint provides evidence of extortion, bribery, illegal drug use, sex discrimination, procurement fraud, securities fraud, and multiple violations of federal law. The complaint describes how after I left, the defendants proceeded to commit over $200 million in fraud when they issued bonds under false pretenses with disclosure documents containing fraudulent information.”
…
“The last governor in the United States who was impeached was Gov. Blagojevich [of Illinois]. He was arrested and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for a whole lot less than this. Now, I realize that I’m just one person going up against the most rich and powerful people in the state of New Mexico. And I realize that these people have virtually unlimited taxpayer dollars that they will continue to use to attack me. But here’s what I believe: I believe that one person can make a difference in this world and I believe it’s important to stand up for what is right.”
“I’m Zach DeGregorio, certified public accountant, and you, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, you are a crook.”
The 261-page complaint filed by DeGregorio includes 41 exhibits showing documented proof of alleged wrongdoing and carefully strings together facts and figures from his time of employment at Spaceport America.
DeGregorio, who is is referred to in the complaint as “DG” wrote in the complaint, “The employees at the NM Spaceport Authority are too scared to speak up out of fear of retaliation. If they did not comply, they would be maliciously attacked, just like the board member Rick Holdridge, who was illegally removed from the board by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham when he objected to the investigation.”
Alicia Keys
Regarding Lujan Grisham’s appointee, Economic Development Secretary Alicia Keys, DeGregorio alleges conflicts of interest with the film industry, where Keys allegedly attempted to falsify reports to show Spaceport America in worse financial shape and sabotage the large project in order to bolster the film industry instead.
“Alicia Keyes continued to work against the interest of the NM Spaceport Authority with regards to the Spaceport Gross Receipts Tax bonds. At the request of the NM Spaceport Authority board, ZD had been researching alternatives to refinance the bonds (last reported value of $47M in FY20). The date the Agency could exercise their option to refinance the bonds was 12/1/2020. ZD had been a vocal critic of refinancing with the current bond holders, the New Mexico Finance Authority, as there were many alternative options that would save the NM taxpayers millions of dollars,” the complaint reads.
Bribery Allegations
The complaint alleges bribes taken by Lujan Grisham, claiming she violated the Anti-Donation Clause and bribery of a public officer (NMSA 30-24-1). “By holding secret meetings, Virgin Galactic was improperly attempting to influence the use of the Spaceport’s operational budget for their own benefit in exchange for benefits to the Governor during upcoming space operations,” DeGregorio writes.
“As further evidence of bribery and preferential treatment, it was reported in the press that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham received exclusive access and promotion during Richard Branson’s first spaceflight with Virgin Galactic on July 11, 2021. This launch was not open to the public except for the Governor and her VIP guests including former Governor Bill Richardson. This is evidence of a quid pro quo. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham gave Virgin Galactic the designation of ‘essential business’ and in return she got to attend a party with Richard Branson,” he added.
$200 Million in Fraud
“Additionally, the fraud also corrupts the NM Finance Authority’s PPRF loan portfolio. The NM Finance Authority released bond disclosure documents stating the PPRF bonds were backed by the revenue from The Spaceport Gross Receipts Tax bonds, without disclosing the material risks of the bonds or the fraudulent actions of the Defendants which involved the CEO of the NM Finance Authority Marquita Russel. The Spaceport Gross Receipts Tax bonds should be removed from the PPRF, and the PPRF restructured. This means that NM Finance Authority also has been issuing fraudulent statements in over $200 Million of their own PPRF bond issuances. Investors justifiably relied on the NM Finance Authority’s false statements which would have impacted the bond ratings from S&P and Moody’s,” the complaint reads.
The fraud alleged relied on board appointments only Lujan Grisham could approve, with the appointment of Alicia Keyes as Board Chair of the NM Spaceport Authority. “This action gave Alicia Keyes control over any future board votes because the three new members had only known Alicia Keyes as board chair and had no prior experience with Rick Holdridge as board chair.”
“The Defendants forced ZD to resign in a constructive discharge. The Defendants were afraid that ZD’s communications exposed over $200 million of securities fraud they were about to commit. The Defendants fraudulently procured consulting services of The McHard Firm to conduct a deeply flawed investigation,” the complaint concluded.
DeGregorio’s complaint goes over many other instances of alleged fraud, corruption, bribery, and retaliation. It can be accessed here. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office was reached for comment but has not yet responded.
On Monday, Alexis Martinez Johnson, a former congressional and Santa Fe mayoral candidate and environmental engineer announced her second bid for Congress in New Mexico’s Third District.
According to an announcement, Martinez Johnson said, “After careful consideration and conversations with New Mexicans in the new [Congressional] District 3, I am proud to announce that I’m declaring my candidacy” against incumbent first-term Democrat Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez.
On Martinez Johnson’s website it reads, “It is imperative that we have individuals who represent the consitutents of New Mexico’s District 3 by taking into account all voices. With experience as an environmental engineering professional, I bring the skill coming up with solutions.”
She added, “We as, New Mexicans, are united in the common goals of making sure that we have opportunity and that we live in a safe and healthy environment.”
At the current moment, Leger Fernandez has $266,577.14 cash on hand, according to reports from the Federal Election Commission.
She is expected to be heavily aided by pro-abortion group EMILY’s List, which runs high-dollar independent expenditures for pro-abortion female candidates. Martinez Johnson will have to prove the viability of her candidacy by outraising Leger Fernandez and by earning support from independent groups that could help her take back the Third District.
The Third District currently leans D+5 down from a D+14 district after Democrats gerrymandered the Second District from Republican to now favor Democrats. The dilution of the First and Third District to swing the Second now gives Republicans an opportunity to pick up the Third District — and 2022 is the time to do it as Leger Fernandez was first elected in 2020. In 2020, Martinez Johnson lost to Leger Fernandez in 2020 by 17.4%.
According to a release from Southwest Coalition for Life, national pro-life leader Abby Johnson, who became known for walking away from a job as a Planned Parenthood facility director and becoming a pro-life leader with her powerful story of redemption, will be visiting New Mexico for the New Mexico March for Life.
Among the speakers joining Johnson at the New Mexico March for Life will be Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, Mark Cavalier of the Southwest Coalition for Life, Mike Seibel of Abortion on Trial, Elisa Martinez of New Mexico Alliance for Life, among others.
On January 5, there will be a “kickoff” webcast featuring state Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences), Schadenberg, and Roberta Cheek from Care Net of Santa Fe.
According to the organizers, the event will happen on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, from 1-3 p.m. in Albuquerque, NM. No venue has been announced yet, but it will be released before the event to those who have signed up.
“Just register at the same website NewMexicoMarchForLife.com and you will receive more information to join both the Kickoff Webcast at 1pm on January 5, as well as the main event on January 11,” wrote Cavalier.
He added, “Unfortunately, the normal New Mexico March for Life was not allowed to take place in Santa Fe for a second year in a row. That’s why a handful of local, state, and national leaders are quickly organizing an alternative event in record time.”
“Furthermore, last month’s outrage of a Planned Parenthood security guard in Albuquerque illegally handcuffing and detaining a law-abiding pro-life volunteer has caught the attention of national and international leaders,” referring to an incident that happened in 2021. Read more about that incident here.
Far-left Joe Biden approved via the “American Rescue Plan Act” around $350,000 in federal funding for eco-Marxist groups’ “environmental justice” initiatives.
According to the Albuquerque Journal, “Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions received $75,000 to create a water quality and public health curriculum for 400 eighth-graders in the South Valley and in Gallup.”
“Tree New Mexico received $200,000 for a two-year project to plant 400 trees in the International District,” and “The Health Equity Council received $75,000 to create a neighborhood food hub plan for the International District.”
The Tree New Mexico claims the South Valley is an “urban heat island.”
“Limited tree canopy and an abundance of asphalt and concrete make the region several degrees hotter than surrounding areas,” the Journal reports.
Shannon Horst, the group’s executive director, claims the data is key for a community where “environmental injustice has been endemic.”
The Health Equity Council’s work will include a focus on “air quality and conservation,” while Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions will use the cash for ten field trips to nail the eco-left message into them.
Leftist “climate change” doomsday theories have long been peddled by many in groups similar to those that got the federal funding, which is driving a narrative for the U.S. to pass a trillion-dollar “Green New Deal,” such as the one passed in New Mexico in the form of the “Energy Transition Act,” which is causing massive economic havoc with little results regarding clean air and water.
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), who lives in Silver Springs, Maryland outside of Washington, D.C., bragged on Sunday about how he was supposedly “electrifying” his home with expensive new appliances including a new heat pump.
Heinrich shared a video and wrote on Twitter, “The decisions we make around our kitchen tables about the cars we drive and the appliances we use in our homes directly impact the health of our climate & our families. Today, I’m taking the next step to electrify my home and installing our second heat pump.”
This comes as 18.63% of New Mexicans are living below the poverty line and cannot afford to heat their homes during the winter, much less invest in eco-left appliances to “electrify” their homes for the “climate.”
After Heinrich posted the videos of his heat pump installation, New Mexicans responded.
One Twitter user, David Chavez, wrote, “A new heat pump in your house that is not in New Mexico. Here in New Mexico we are more concerned with crime and the homeless. Both keep increasing and all you care about is a new heat pump. But then again you don’t live in New Mexico so how would you know what our issues are.”
Miro Tokarczyk added, “How can such a[n] out of touch politician represent working families who can’t afford EVs and rising electricity and heating bills?”
Leticia Muñoz chimed in with, “How much did it cost out on the east coast? Cuz we know you don’t live in NM so you [didn’t] buy it here.”
An account called TexasNece” commented, “NM gas and oil is cheap, clean and reliable. We can’t afford your climate hysteria.”
Heinrich’s apparently out-of-touch comments come as far-left Democrats passed New Mexico’s Green New Deal in the form of the “Energy Transition Act” while Heinrich is a supporter of a National Green New Deal that would cripple the oil and gas industries which are responsible for heating New Mexicans’ houses in the winter.
On Saturday, The Hill listed scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as one of the “most vulnerable” governors facing reelection in 2022 after the Governor’s tumultuous tenure which has resulted in scandal after scandal.
October campaign finance reports showed that New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) raked in more than $2.5 million over the previous six months.
While Grisham appears to be in a stronger position than other Democratic incumbent governors, with the Cook Political Report rating her race as “likely Democratic,” Republicans have set their sights on her seat.
Several Republicans, including state Rep. Rebecca Dow, former Senate candidate Mark Ronchetti and Sandoval County commissioner Jay Block, have thrown their hats into the ring to challenge Grisham.
Lujan Grisham joins the likes of fellow Democrat Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Laura Kelly of Kansas, Steve Sisolak of Nevada, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, and Janet Mills of Maine who are all holding onto their seats by a thread.
With New Mexico’s Governor being the chair of the “Democratic Governors Association,” her race being listed as “likely Democratic” shows the people of New Mexico may have just had enough of her far-left leadership.
As we previously reported regarding Lujan Grisham:
Her controversy-driven tenure as governor has been marked with scandal after scandal after scandal. From forcing through the most far-left extreme bills through the Legislature to paying off sexual accusers and her own daughter with campaign cash, and then “misplacing” $250 million in Workforce Solutions money, she has weakened her chance of reelection day after day.
She repeatedly skirted her pandemic rules to buy luxury jewelry, used taxpayer funds for fine wine and $200/lb Wagyu beef steaks, berated local communities for not following her edicts, forced New Mexicans to stand in cold bread lines to get food and basic goods, fined churches and businesses tens of thousands of dollars for alleged non-compliance, removed the National Guard from the border and denied an immigration crisis, fired and hired cabinet secretaries on a dime, gave her staff hefty raises while New Mexicans lost everything, and she is giving away $10 million of New Mexicans’ dollars through a “lottery” to bribe people to take the experimental virus inoculation. Her pandemic lockdowns killed 40% of New Mexico’s small businesses.
Moderate GOP state Rep. Alonzo Baldonado (R-Valencia) announced his abrupt resignation, according to reports from the Valencia County News-Bulletin and KRQE 13.
Baldonado reportedly said it’s “time to turn the page,” making today, Friday, Dec. 31, his last day as a legislator.
“The politics can be very stressful, but after the session, you go have dinner with people,” he said. “That’s something I don’t think people know exists. They think, ‘Oh he’s a Republican and she’s a Democrat.’ We can get along. It’s not rocket science. It’s about personalities and relationships,” he told the News-Bulletin.
After the abrupt announcement, far-left House Speaker Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) said, “I have had the pleasure of serving with Representative Baldonado since 2011. Over the years, I have come to appreciate Alonzo as an able public servant who has always put the people first and as a good friend. I wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”
Socialist Democrat House Majority Leader who took over for alleged money launderer Sheryl Williams Stapleton Javier Martinez (D-Bernalillo) said to KRQE 13, “I deeply respect Representative Baldonado’s commitment to public service and I admire how he has fought tirelessly for his constituents. I wish him well in his future endeavors, where I know he will continue to serve his community.”
Baldonado is known for complaining about his job and claiming he does not get paid despite receiving a pension and daily per-diem for his time in Santa Fe. As we previously reported in an editorial:
“Moderate” Rep. Alonzo Baldonado (R-Valencia), while defending Rep. Kelly Fajardo’s (R-Valencia) vote in favor of Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “mini” Green New Deal, wrote, “For all of you out there that think making votes and not getting paid to do it is easy….I say you go do it.” In 2022, many conservative Republicans will do it, and hopefully, strong patriots who do not cower will run against Reps. Fajardo and Baldonado to bring true representation to the Legislature—actual servants of the people who will not complain about the job they knew full-well they were getting into.
Now Baldonado will no longer have to complain about “not getting paid,” as his time in the Legislature is done.
On Wednesday, scandal-ridden alleged serial groper Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Democrats’ far-left gerrymander state House map that deletes Hispanic representation, creates districts that snake around others, and could boot one of the only Black representatives from her district.
According to reports, the heavily gerrymandered map could give Democrats 45 of the 70 seats in the state House.
Lujan Grisham claimed, “This is a sound map that is representative and respectful of New Mexico’s varied communities of interest and will, I believe, ensure that the will of the people will continue to be done in that chamber.”
Despite the heavy partisan gerrymander based on a map drawn by the George Soros-funded Center for Civic Policy (CCP), the governor claims it is “representative.” This is despite Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert possibly being kicked out of her seat and Republicans being paired with Democrats in two districts.
Those include — Rep. Greg Nibert (R-Roswell) and Rep. Phelps Anderson (DTS-Roswell), as well as Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Bernalillo) and Rep. Bill Rehm (R-Bernalillo).
The maps were not the work of the state’s Citizen Redistricting Committee. Rather, the work of dark money operatives apparently seeking a left-wing political advantage.
During the closed-door special session in which Democrats rammed through the extreme proposals, public comment was cut off or not accepted at all and no notice was given to the public to addend critical committee hearings on the proposed maps.
Even the left-wing Albuquerque Journal decried the partisanship in the drawing of maps. In a recent editorial, the paper wrote that the maps were drawn for “naked political gain.”
“So much for keeping like-minded communities together, prioritizing communities of interest, protecting marginalized groups, avoiding court intervention, and not favoring anyone, specifically political parties or incumbents.”
The Republican Party of New Mexico and New Mexico Open Elections are considering lawsuits to block the maps. It is unclear the status of those at this time.
Lujan Grisham has yet to sign the state Senate maps, which also drew controversy. She has until Jan. 6 to do so.
On the front page of the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Sunday issue, the paper ran a profile piece on Piñon Post editor and founder John Block titled “An unlikely conservative voice needles New Mexico’s left.”
The profile wrote, “Block, who remains convinced Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, has been called the unofficial spokesman of the Republican Party of New Mexico — given to writing incendiary things on politics and politicians that perhaps the party structure would not.”
The piece, which interviewed both Block and those who disagree with him, resulted in absolute pandemonium on social media, with 142 comments on the article itself as of 9:00 a.m. Wednesday with leftists losing their minds over the coverage. The article has since become the most popular on the site.
On social media, the fringe George Soros-funded dark money group ProgressNow New Mexico (PNNM) claimed Block and the Piñon Post are “extremist” and a “general threat to democracy,” urging its followers to frantically demand the New Mexican apologize for the profile piece.
PNNM has previously shared propaganda from the domestic terrorist group “ANTIFA,” which promotes violence in American cities. PNNM encouraged its followers to doxx conservatives who the group disagrees with — yet it claims the Piñon Post’s accurate journalism is “extreme.”
It encouraged its followers to beg the New Mexican for an apology and to write angry letters to the editor showing the dissatisfaction of the far-left.
Leftist state Rep. Liz Thomson (D-Bernalillo) has repeatedly bashed New Mexicans, including attacks on Law Enforcement, which she compared to the KKK. She chimed in on Twitter, writing, “It was beyond disappointing for a good newspaper to play into this pathology.”
It was beyond disappointing for a good newspaper to play into this pathology. https://t.co/xrfN4aeaeO
One commenter gave a little more sanity to the conversation, replying to Thomson, “So, it’s all good when @thenewmexican reports what the democrats want/like, but when they don’t, watch out 🙄 kinda makes one wonder about truth and unbiased journalism in New Mexico.”
It appears that the New Mexican piece, which was by no stretch of the imagination flattering to Block, has further “needled” New Mexico’s Radical Left and exposed more radicalism from the so-called “tolerant” leftists in the state.
