Jerome Block
A district judge has dismissed half of the charges against Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Jr. and his father, a former PRC member, ruling that the attorney general overstepped his authority with the indictments.
That’s according to The Santa Fe New Mexican, which is reporting that the judge ruled that the applicable law – the Voter Action Act – allows the secretary of state to choose civil fines or handing the case over to the AG for prosecution of violations, but not both.
The AG’s office plans to appeal, the newspaper is reporting. Even if it loses, several charges remain.
In April, the attorney general secured the indictments of Block and his father on felony and misdemeanor charges related to misusing the state’s public financing system. Block has not resigned from his PRC seat.