By KRWG News
New Mexico – SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) A House panel has selected former federal prosecutor Robert Gorence to handle an investigation of whether Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Jr. should be impeached for misconduct in office.
Impeachment subcommittee co-chairman Rep. Joseph Cervantes said Thursday that Gorence will be the panel's special counsel.
Gorence works as a defense attorney in Albuquerque and formerly was a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Block, a Democrat, is under investigation by the attorney general's office for possible misuse of a state-issued gasoline card.
Gorence will gather and present evidence to the subcommittee, which will decide whether to recommend impeachment.
A majority House vote is required to impeach Block. The Senate would then hold a trial, and a two-thirds vote is necessary to convict Block and permanently remove him from office.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. KRWG