New Mexico’s Democratic Governor Just Settled a Sexual Misconduct Case With a Former Aide | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Ashe Schow.

    A story that won't receive as much media attention as one involving a male Republican governor, the female Democratic governor of New Mexico's 2018 campaign recently reached a settlement with a former male aide who accused her of sexual misconduct.

    The Albuquerque Journal reported that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM)'s campaign reached a settlement with James Hallinan, who worked as a spokesperson for her 2018 gubernatorial campaign.

    Hallinan claimed in late 2019 — a year after leaving the campaign — that during the campaign, Lujan Grisham had poured a bottle of water on his crotch and then grabbed his crotch through his clothing while laughing. Hallinan claimed other staffers witnessed this event.

    The Journal reported that Hallinan claimed he "was talked out of reporting the incident by Lujan Grisham campaign manager Dominic Gabello, who is now a senior adviser in the Governor's Office."

    Hallinan made the allegation in a tweet on December 25, 2019, adding that he would provide more information when he returned to the U.S.

    "A governor ... is not above the law for her sexual and physical abuse of employees including (me!!!) I'll talk more when I return to the country," he wrote.

    Following the tweet, a spokeswoman for Lujan Grisham said the allegations were odd and false, adding that the staffers who allegedly witnessed the water bottle incident said it didn't happen.

    Lujan Grisham's campaign spokesman Jared Leopold said in a statement Monday that the payment to Hallinan — which amounts to at least $62,500 paid out over five months — was part of a settlement that resolved "numerous dubious and disputed potential claims made by Mr. Hallinan arising from his employment in 2018 with the campaign organization and his subsequent search for employment."

    Leopold added that the settlement was agreed to in order to avoid an ongoing distraction, adding that the governor, Gabello, and the campaign "strenuously deny that there is any merit or truth to Mr. Hallinan's claims, including his claims about difficulty finding or keeping work after the campaign."

    "They reached a settlement in order to avoid the continuing distraction and significant expense of possible litigation and allow them to concentrate on working for the people of New Mexico during this pandemic," Leopold added.

    More from the Journal:

  • Settlement payments were made to the Buckley Beal law firm in Atlanta, where Rachel Berlin Benjamin, an attorney for Hallinan, is senior partner.
  • She said Monday that the governor and Hallinan "have resolved any differences or issues to their satisfaction."
  • "I am not able to provide any further information," she said.

    A settlement usually carries the impression of guilt, though it is not always the case. The way the media treats different cases, however, is far different. The allegations against Lujan Grisham are couched with wording meant to sow doubt on the accusations. This is not the case when a Republican is accused, nor would the story be covered as little as this one has been, with each outlet publishing just one article about it and moving on, with little to no TV coverage and no opinion articles about what this says about the Party or one particular gender.
Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published)
Enter Your Comment ( no code or urls allowed, text only please )




NC House Passes Tax Relief Bill for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic Guest Editorial, Editorials, Op-Ed & Politics Breaking: Biden Admin’s Decision to Pause J&J Vaccine Causes Confidence in Vaccine to Plummet


HbAD0

Latest Op-Ed & Politics

amnesty would just encourage more illegal aliens to storm our borders
The Christmas candy was barely off the shelves when the Valentine’s candy appeared. Red and pink hearts with caramel and nut-filled chocolate goodness caught our eye. We are reminded of how we love love. Young love, especially.
far left sugar daddy has also funded anti-Israel groups and politicians in US
Be careful what you wish for, you may get it
America needs to wake up and get its priorities right
Former President Donald Trump suggested this week that if he becomes president again, he might allow Prince Harry to be deported.
It's a New Year, which means it's time to make resolutions — even for prominent evangelical leaders. The Babylon Bee asked the following well-known figures in the faith what they hope to accomplish in 2024:
Vice President Kamala Harris will visit a Minnesota Planned Parenthood clinic, reportedly the first time a president or vice president has visited an abortion facility.
An eight-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville has been temporarily closed due to a string of “human and bear interactions,” the National Parks Service announced.

HbAD1

University of Wisconsin tried to punish conservatives for the fact that liberals regularly commit crimes to silence opposition
most voters think EU officials not doing a good job on illegal immigration
Come from behind by GOP candidate is a blueprint to 2024
Biden spending and energy policies to blame
Tuberculosis carried by illegal invaders has already infected Texas cattle
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said this week that the only campaign promise President Joe Biden has delivered on as president is the complete dismantling of the U.S. southern border.
Hamas is reeling after losing two of their most cherished leaders on the same day: military commander Saleh al-Arouri, and Harvard President Claudine Gay.
President Joe Biden’s brother told the Internal Revenue Service that Hunter Biden told him he was in business with a “protege of President Xi,” referring to the leader of China, according to notes by an IRS investigator that were divulged during a congressional interview of Jim Biden.

HbAD2

 
Back to Top