No one is above the law
The conviction last week of former state Sen. Phil Griego on five charges, including fraud and bribery, marks a sad end to his storied career in politics. Prosecutors say he could face 17½ years in prison. Let the verdict serve as a warning to politicians who play fast and loose with the rules — corruption will not be tolerated. Let it serve as a warning to all elected officials that their mission must be the public business, not self-enrichment. Let it serve, too, as a reminder to lawmakers that they can no longer afford to look the other way.
Yet, reading his lawyer’s reaction of surprise at the verdict and watching Griego’s own conduct during the trial, shaking hands with a witness and chatting with another, it is entirely possible he does not understand the gravity of his actions. He was just making a deal, after all. What’s wrong with that?
Judge for yourself. Griego pushed through legislation to enable the sale of a piece of property and ended up making more than $50,000 off the sale in a broker’s fee. He admitted to a Senate ethics panel that even before the 2014 session, he was working with owners of The Inn of Five Graces to make the sale happen. They wanted to buy a piece of state property near their inn, and Griego arranged for the authorizing legislation and found a sponsor, state Rep. Jim Trujillo, and then shepherded the bill through. (Our compliments to independent journalist Peter St. Cyr, who first reported this story back in 2014.)
Griego’s rationale for his actions was simple: He did not actually have a deal until a contract was signed, which happened after the end of the session. That’s not good enough.
In addition to fraud and bribery, Griego was found guilty of having an unlawful interest in a public contract and of two ethical violations. Jurors did not convict on one count each of fraud, perjury and failure to make required financial disclosures. The verdict will be appealed, as is automatic in such cases.
Now comes sentencing, with the 69-year-old facing considerable prison time. Even more sobering for Griego and his family is a second criminal case, this one in connection with campaign spending violations. Griego, the former Republican turned Democrat who began elected office as a Santa Fe city councilor, can’t escape the taint to his reputation.
Even if he has not learned a lesson, perhaps others will. Attorney General Hector Balderas said it best in his statement after the verdict: “Holding the powerful accountable is how we ensure our government truly serves the citizens of New Mexico and that no one is above the law, regardless of their political status.”
No one is above the law. No one.