The spokeswoman for Attorney General Patricia Madrid says the state has no intention of indicting former Treasurer Robert Vigil at this point.
The state announced today the indictments of four others in the massive treasurer’s office scandal, based on their testimony against Vigil in federal court. But that trial ended with a hung jury, and the feds intend to retry Vigil.
“We do not intend to do anything to interfere in any way with the federal case,” spokeswoman Sam Thompson said.
She made no promises about what happens after that case concludes.
Indicting the others won’t affect the case because their sworn testimony is already on record and can be used even if they refuse to testify at Vigil’s second trial.
When asked about the talk by some that this is a political ploy, Thompson pointed out that the four who were indicted admitted to breaking the law by abusing state taxpayer money. In doing so, they destroyed the credibility of state government.
“We needed to prosecute,” Thompson said. “We feel we were just fulfilling our duty.”
Madrid is trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M. this year, and has been plagued during the campaign by allegations that she failed to investigate the treasurer’s office and stop the corruption there years ago.