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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 18 January 2023

Ex-GOP candidate charged in shootings at lawmakers' homes

By RIO YAMAT and conspiracy and being a aim above the windows to
SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN felon in possession of a fire- avoid striking anyone inside,
Associated Press arm. No one was wounded but that wasn't enough for
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) in the drive-by shootings, Peña, who wanted them to
— A failed Republican which come amid rising shoot lower. He said Peña
candidate paid $500 to threats nationwide against was there at the Lopez
four men to shoot at the members of Congress, shooting "to ensure better
homes of Democratic law- school board members, target acquisition."
makers, but was so unsatis- election officials and oth- Peña's insistence that the
fied with the shooters' work er government workers. In men be more aggressive
that he went along for the Kansas, a trial began this made the other partici-
final drive-by, his gun jam- week for a man who pros- pants uneasy "since they
ming as bullets ripped into ecutors say threatened to knew that doing so would
the bedroom of a sleeping kill a congressman. likely end in death or injury,"
10-year-old girl, police said. The New Mexico Republi- said the witness, who faces
The criminal complaint can Party said that: "If Peña criminal charges and has
against Solomon Peña, a is found guilty, he must be asked for leniency. Authori-
39-year-old felon and self- prosecuted to the full ex- ties said no such promises Solomon Pena, center, a Republican candidate for New Mexico
proclaimed "MAGA king," tent of the law." have been made. House District 14, is taken into custody by Albuquerque Police
officers, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in southwest Albuquerque, N.M.
describes how anger over Police said Peña had pre- A lawyer for Peña who Associated Press
his landslide defeat in No- viously shown up uninvited could comment on the al-
vember led to attacks at at the homes of two elect- legations wasn't listed Tues- fact that our democratic way," Martinez, the Demo-
the homes of four Demo- ed officials with what he day in court records. processes that we believed cratic lawmaker, said at
cratic lawmakers in New claimed were documents The shooting spree was so much in -- and that our a news conference on his
Mexico's largest city. A proving that he had won "scary, not just from my per- country was founded on -- first day as the top-ranked
SWAT team arrested him his race. There was no evi- sonal perspective, but the would be targeted in that House leader.q
Monday evening, police dence of widespread vot-
said. Peña spent nine years er fraud, or any irregularity
behind bars after his ar- involving enough votes to
rest in April 2007 for steal- change a result, in New
ing electronics and other Mexico in 2020 or 2022.
goods from several retail The criminal complaint,
stores as part of what au- which includes testimony
thorities described as a from a confidential witness
burglary crew. He was re- who said he had "personal
leased from prison in March and intimate knowledge of
2016, and had his voting the crimes" and was pres-
rights restored after com- ent at most of the attacks,
pleting five years probation says Peña hired a father
in April 2021, corrections of- and son with criminal histo-
ficials said. ries of their own as well as
Peña ran unsuccessfully in two brothers whom author-
November against incum- ities have yet to identify. In
bent state Rep. Miguel P. one of their text messages,
Garcia, the longtime Dem- Peña complained that offi-
ocrat representing House cials certifying the election
District 14 in the South Val- in November "sold us out to
ley. Peña got 26% of the the highest bidder."
vote. Peña, whose criminal The shootings began Dec.
past had came up during 4, when eight rounds were
his losing campaign, re- fired at the home of Berna-
peatedly made baseless lillo County Commissioner
claims that the election Adriann Barboa. Days lat-
was "rigged" against him. er, state Rep. Javier Marti-
"I dissent. I am the MAGA nez's home was targeted.
king," he posted the day On Dec. 11, more than a
after the election. On Nov. dozen rounds were fired
15, he posted an image of at the home of Bernalillo
himself in a "Make America County Commissioner Deb-
Great Again" hoodie, say- bie O'Malley, police said.
ing "Trump just announced The final related shooting,
for 2024. I stand with him. targeting state Sen. Linda
I never conceded my HD Lopez's home, unfolded in
14 race. Now researching the midnight hour of Jan.
my options." Peña has an 3. Police said more than a
initial court appearance dozen shots were fired, in-
Wednesday on charges cluding three that Lopez
including multiple counts said passed through the
of shooting at a home and bedroom of her sleeping
shooting from a motor ve- 10-year-old daughter.
hicle, aggravated battery The witness said one of the
with a deadly weapon, men told the shooters to