SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The jury in a corruption trial weighed whether to convict a former New Mexico state senator for his role in the sale of a state-owned building, during deliberations Thursday on eight criminal charges.
State prosecutors say ex-Sen. Phil Griego used his elected position to help authorize the 2014 sale of a State Parks building in downtown Santa Fe without properly disclosing his business relationship with the buyer. Griego earned a $50,000 commission on the sale as a real estate agent for the owners of a luxury inn.
Court testimony shows Griego guiding authorization for the sale past a state agency, a public buildings commission and the Legislature — where he walked off the Senate floor in an attempt to avoid voting.
Criminal charges against Griego include fraud, bribery, perjury, violating the ethical principles of public service, unlawful interest in a public contract and violating financial disclosure requirements. If convicted, the counts could earn him up to 23 ½ years in jail.
The jury is considering testimony from two dozen witnesses that include current and former Cabinet secretaries, leading lawmakers, real estate specialists — and the defendant himself.
The harshest possible single penalty is linked to accusations that Griego defrauded the state of New Mexico through deception to earn his real estate commission.
Prosecutors with the office of state Attorney General Hector Balderas have accused Griego of helping spread misinformation in the Legislature that maintenance costs outweighed rental income on the state building in question, when lease documents assigned the cost of maintenance to those renting the property. They also say Griego hid lease terms that gave his real estate client the first right to buy the property at an appraised value — standing idly on the Senate floor as a colleague described competitive bidding provisions.
Accurate information likely would have delayed and derailed the legislation, according to testimony from Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth.
Defense attorney Thomas Clark has emphasized that high-ranking state officials learned that Griego had a business relationship with the property buyer and pushed forward with the sale anyway. In closing statements, Clark accused at least three other officials of perjury for denying knowledge of Griego's business interest in the sale.
The jury's judgment on charges of bribery and ethical violations hinge on whether Griego used his political influence in exchange for money or the promise of money during a 2014 legislative session and preceding months.
Griego persuaded a House colleague to introduce legislation authorizing the property sale without mentioning communication with prospective buyer Ira Seret. Prosecutors say that disguised Griego's involvement. Griego expressed regret on the witness stand for not saying more at the time.
Prosecutors say Griego intervened numerous times to ensure the legislation would not die, and later left out details of his commission from financial disclosure forms for public officials that might have tipped off regulators and prosecutors about potential wrongdoing. Griego said he followed instructions from an outdated disclosure form.