State ethics commission considers merits of four complaints

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's newly founded State Ethic Commission plans to meet by online video conference later this week to review the first four complaints it has received.

The complaints will be reviewed by the seven-member panel Friday in an executive session without public access to deliberations.

The commission treats complaints as confidential until there is a probable-cause finding, including determinations about jurisdiction or dismissals. That doesn't prevent people from going public with accusations or rebuttals.

The commission fields complaints regarding campaign finances, government contracting, gifts from lobbyists and more.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the creation of the commission in 2018 in the wake of a series of high-profile corruption scandals that led to jail time for former Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran and former state Sen. Phil Griego.