Lujan Grisham gets restraining order against woman
Congresswoman ‘fearful of Ms. Del Rey,’ a transgender former intern who was arrested at Democrats’ convention
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham has obtained a restraining order against a transgender woman who says she was discriminated against while interning in the congresswoman’s office.
Lujan Grisham, a Democrat who is running for governor, said she is afraid of former intern Riley Del Rey.
Del Rey, 26, has launched a campaign of sorts against Lujan Grisham.
Albuquerque police arrested Del Rey this month when she interrupted Lujan Grisham’s speech at the state Democratic Party’s preprimary convention. Del Rey for several minutes chanted near the stage, sounded an air horn and threw leaflets in the air before she was hauled out of the convention hall by officers.
Filed in state District Court, the restraining order application stated that the congresswoman believes Del Rey intends to cause her serious harm.
“Ms. Del Rey’s threatening behavior against Michelle Lujan Grisham has escalated in the last several weeks,” the application stated. “Michelle Lujan Grisham is fearful of Ms. Del Rey.”
In an email exchange Tuesday, Del Rey wrote: “I have never been violent nor have I ever been close enough to harm her and I don’t want to. Although I have been disrupting speeches in an effort to hold our congresswoman accountable in addressing claims of investigating and taking seriously workplace violence especially from trans people.”
Del Rey accused the congresswoman’s office late last year of getting her fired from an internship with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute because of her gender identity.
The institute has called Del Rey’s accusations “false.”
The congresswoman’s office has said no discrimination occurred.
Her staff added that Lujan Grisham has consistently received high marks from lesbian, gay and transgender rights groups and has worked with transgender advocacy organizations to provide training for staff.
The application for the restraining order points to an episode in February when Del Rey allegedly crashed an event with the congresswoman at a hotel in Santa Fe. Lujan Grisham had to jump off a stool to avoid injury, the application says.
Now Del Rey faces charges of assault and disorderly conduct in the episode at the Democratic convention.
A judge granted a temporary restraining order last week, ordering Del Rey to not threaten, harm, harass or annoy Lujan Grisham or others around her.
The temporary restraining order also requires Del Rey to stay at least 100 yards from Lujan Grisham, her residence, workplace and any public place where she is working or campaigning.
A hearing on the restraining order is scheduled for next week.
Del Rey countered that the restraining order was intended to keep her from participating in the mediation of a complaint filed with the U.S. House of Representatives. The complaint says Lujan Grisham would not personally participate in a mediation session scheduled this week “for safety reasons.”
But Lujan Grisham’s office said this in no way affects Del Rey’s ability to take part in the mediation.