An attorney for New Mexico Secretary of State Dianna Duran is asking a judge to disqualify the state's Attorney General's Office from Duran's pending fraud case.
Duran's lawyer Erlinda Ocampo Johnson filed late Wednesday a motion, arguing Attorney General Hector Balderas has a conflict of interest since he and Duran have sparred in the past. Johnson wrote it seems Balderas has a "vendetta" against Duran.
Attorney General spokesman James Hallinan says there is not conflict of interest and the office will address the matter in court. Hallinan says the Attorney General's Office also will no longer represent the Secretary of State's Office.
Duran is charged with funneling campaign contributions into personal bank accounts and later withdrawing large sums while frequenting New Mexico casinos.
She has pleaded not guilty.
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