GOP declines chance to prove voter fraud

Republicans who have alleged that there is voter fraud in New Mexico were invited to testify before a legislative committee on Wednesday.

U.S. Attorney David Iglesias and State Rep. Justine Fox-Young were asked to provide evidence of past claims they have made about voter fraud. Both informed the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee today that they won’t appear tomorrow, said State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces and the committee’s co-chair.

“The panel begins tomorrow and we’re learning, for the first time, that not one wants to appear to substantiate their allegations,” Cervantes said.

Fox-Young testified before a U.S. House committee in Las Cruces earlier this year that there was evidence dead people were voting in New Mexico. Cervantes invited her to ask her to back up her testimony.

Fox-Young informed the committee today that another commitment prevents her from attending, Cervantes said.

Iglesias set up an anti-voter fraud unit for the 2004 election. He said he believed there was illegal activity going on and pledged to find it and prosecute wrongdoers. Shortly after the election, his office began downplaying the issue, and ended up prosecuting no one.

Iglesias, Cervantes said, simply declined to attend.

Both were invited several weeks ago, and waited until today to inform the committee they won’t attend, Cervantes said.

The three-day meeting of the committee beings at 10 a.m. Wednesday.