Friday, June 15, 2012

Heather Wilson—One Long Career History of Scandals

Former Congresswoman Heather Wilson is not a fit candidate for the U.S. Senate. Her record of service shows a long history of scandals dating back to the start of her public career.


Scandal while she was Secretary of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department

“In 1995, just three days into her tenure as Secretary of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, Wilson removed a routine working file alleging that her husband had engaged in inappropriate contact with a minor. The file was then transferred to the department's attorney in her own Albuquerque office, where it soon went missing.”

“Charges were never filed against her husband, but Wilson's handling of the affair drew the ire of Bob Schwartz who at the time served as district attorney in Bernalillo County. He described Wilson's actions to the news team as "absolutely inappropriate," citing her "obvious conflict of interest." He also admonished Wilson for not following official procedure for the removal of official documents. "If this file is behind Secretary Wilson's desk," Schwartz said, "then she shouldn't be behind this desk anymore. She should resign."

Scandal while she was U.S. Congresswoman for New Mexico District One

“At the beginning of the U.S. attorneys scandal, former New Mexico U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, a Republican, accused Wilson of contacting him in mid-October 2006 while he was still in office to pressure him to take action on a political corruption case, which Wilson was using as political fodder against her opponent Patricia Madrid. Anti-intimidation rules prohibit elected officials from contacting U.S. attorneys to inquire about progress on a case.”

Scandal of Pay-to-Play with Darren White

“ProgressNow New Mexico has uncovered documents showing that former-congresswoman and current US Senate candidate Heather Wilson has been named in a "pay-to-play" investigation being conducted by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office.

You might remember way back in 2008 when news reports questioned the use of federal grants earmarked by Wilson to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department that ended up at a company owned by Wilson campaign donors.

Now, ProgressNow New Mexico has learned that New Mexico's Attorney General has been conducting an investigation and both Heather Wilson and then-sheriff Darren White were called in for questioning.”