6 votes

Weekly US politics news and updates thread - week of January 16

Automatically posted January 16, 2023

This thread is posted weekly - please try to post all relevant US political content in here, such as news, updates, opinion articles, etc. Extremely significant events may warrant a separate topic, but almost all should be posted in here.

This is an inherently political thread; please try to avoid antagonistic arguments and bickering matches. Comment threads that devolve into unproductive arguments may be removed so that the overall topic is able to continue.

1 comment

cmccabe
January 17, 2023
Link
Failed GOP Candidate Allegedly Hired Hitmen To Target Dem. Lawmakers https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/solomon-pena-arrested-shootings-new-mexico-democrats-1234662129/

Failed GOP Candidate Allegedly Hired Hitmen To Target Dem. Lawmakers
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/solomon-pena-arrested-shootings-new-mexico-democrats-1234662129/

A former GOP candidate for New Mexico’s House of Representatives was arrested on Monday in connection to a series of violent attacks against Democratic lawmakers in the state. Authorities say Solomon Peña was the “mastermind” behind four shootings carried out between Dec. 4, and Jan. 3.

The shootings targeted the homes of New Mexico’s House Speaker Javier Martinez, former Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley, Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, and state Senator Linda Lopez. While no fatalities or injuries were reported, Peña stands accused of planning and coordinating the shootings with four men, some of whom authorities say may have been paid for their participation. The former state House candidate is said to have personally “pulled the trigger” in at least one of the attacks.

Peña handily lost his 2022 bid for state office to Democrat Miguel P. Garcia, who was not singled out in the attacks. Following his loss, Peña contacted various lawmakers claiming to have evidence of electoral fraud.

2 votes