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Doña Ana County Whistleblower Fired; Was Temporary Employee

A whistleblower who brought an alleged identity theft and check cashing scam to light within the Dona Ana County clerk's office has been fired.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that Robert "RJ" Hernandez was told of the termination Thursday.

Hernandez says he was a temporary clerk's office employee, so county officials weren't obligated to give an explanation for the decision. He says they also can terminate temporary employees at will.

But Hernandez says the move is backlash for his involvement in calling attention to the alleged fraud and theft.

Now that he's no longer a county employee, Hernandez says he'll run for election for county clerk in 2016.

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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News. 

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.