In a stunning reversal, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver has admitted she will not pursue criminal charges for alleged online harassment she previously attributed to state Rep. John Block (R-Alamogordo), Piñon Post’s editor. This comes after weeks of public accusations linking Block to threats against her, which Toulouse Oliver claimed were spurred by his criticism of her opposition to voter ID laws.
In an email to media, Toulouse Oliver’s spokesperson Alex Curtas stated, “We have not filed a report on this matter and are unlikely to as the most incendiary of the online messages were deleted before we could compile them for review and potential referral.” The sudden change in course has left critics questioning the credibility of her claims.
Rep. Block responded to the development with strong words: “Wow, after slandering my name for weeks, now SOS Maggie admits it’s all a hoax and supposed fake ‘harassment’ comments she used to attack me and others were conveniently ‘deleted.’ No, it’s because she was put in a corner after I threatened legal action. Shame on her!” he posted on social media.
The controversy began after X users and Block publicly challenged Toulouse Oliver on her resistance to implementing voter ID laws in New Mexico. The secretary laughed at constituents and clapped back at them via social media for asking basic questions.
During a legislative committee meeting, Toulouse Oliver alleged that Block had “egged on” a toxic online environment, indirectly contributing to threats against her. She singled out Block and his platform, the Piñon Post, labeling them as purveyors of “false and misleading information.”
“If she thinks that asking questions about why she doesn’t support voter ID is a threat, then she’s got the thinnest skin I’ve ever seen in my life,” Block previously told local media.
Tensions escalated when Toulouse Oliver announced plans to file a police report under a 2023 law criminalizing threats against election officials. Yet, with no evidence forthcoming, her office backtracked, claiming key posts had been deleted before documentation.
This incident has amplified the ongoing debate over voter ID laws in New Mexico. Polls consistently show widespread support for voter ID, with Gallup reporting that 84% of Americans favor such measures. Block and his supporters argue that Toulouse Oliver’s opposition undermines election security, while she maintains that voter ID could lead to voter suppression.
“This isn’t about harassment; it’s about silencing dissent,” Block said. “She’s weaponizing baseless accusations to deflect from real questions about election integrity.”
As the dust settles, many New Mexicans are left questioning Toulouse Oliver’s false allegations and the broader implications for free speech and accountability in public office.
She is nothing but a liar! We want voter ID!!!
It’s WE THE PEOPLE!!! She works for us not the party called democrats!
Get it through your head Touluese! You work for us and I believe you are impeachable!
Guess what, Maggie. You are now irrelevant.
I hear Democrats and their supporters say voter ID will disenfranchise voters, yet none of them can say how actual voters will be disenfranchised. The usual response is them calling the people asking the question racists, misogynist, homo/transphobic, or uneducated. When I last checked, US citizens of all races can get a DL/state ID. US citizens who are female can as well. US citizens no matter how they choose to define or gender themselves, can get this important document. As for the uneducated, they to have the ability to obtain the magic card. The underlying connection is they should ALL be United States citizens with paperwork to back it up! The only people who should be disenfranchised are those who are not US citizens. By definition, that is not disenfranchisement. This is following the laws of the state and the nation in which we reside. The state whose laws you, MTO, said you would uphold. So either you have no problem breaking the laws of NM, or you are a liar. Which is it?
As a New Mexican and Independent voter, age 78, I strongly favor the enforcement of voter ID.
Make no mistake, MTO is positioning herself to run for governor in 2026. If she is elected, you can expect actions that will be further left than MLG. Professional politicians are killing this country.