Officials at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department are firing back after the state auditor raised questions about senior-level officials inappropriately exerting influence over tax matters.
Department spokesman Ben Cloutier says the allegations are nothing more than unsubstantiated claims being driven by disgruntled former employees.
He also accused State Auditor Tim Keller, a Democrat, of playing politics.
Keller announced Thursday that he forwarded allegations of wrongdoing to the state attorney general's office.
Keller didn't release many details, but his office looked into whether officials used their positions to pressure employees to obtain differential treatment for a certain taxpayer.
Other questions included whether these actions were taken to protect a high-level official from individual liability stemming from previous work for the taxpayer and whether the state lost revenue as a result.
State Auditor's Deputy Chief of Staff, Justine Freeman said in a statement Thursday, "There is nothing partisan about the audio tapes and testimony documented by the independent investigative firm. Our office has a track record of fighting misconduct of public officials regardless of political party. We hope TRD will address the substance of these issues rather than distracting with shallow rhetoric.”
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