Curry joins grand jury petition

CLOVIS — Curry County joined a growing list of counties petitioning for a grand jury to hear allegations of state constitutional violations by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Farril De Foor told The News Thursday the filing is the result of citizens who are “sick and tired of not being free Americans and we have had enough.”

Curry, De Foor said, was the 23rd county to join the effort, with the filings done by local citizens in each county and funded by Roswell oil producer Larry “Lead” Marker.

New Mexico does not have a recall provision for statewide offices. Article II, Section 14 of the state constitution allows a citizens’ grand jury to hear evidence against state officials about three specific types of allegations: malfeasance of office, misfeasance of office and violations of oath of office.

The petitions charge, “The legally unjustified actions of Defendant during her term as Governor include but are not limited to the abuse of authority related to the numerous constitutionally prohibited renewals of public health emergency orders. Defendant under guise of emergency authority ordered and authorized numerous illegal actions that included invasions of the constitutionally protected rights of citizens of New Mexico.”

Marker said the governor has effectively established herself as all three branches of state government by not involving the Legislature in pandemic-related restrictions.

The grand jury petitions, the state constitution says, require 2% of registered voters in a county or 200 registered voters, whichever is greater. De Foor said the amount of Curry County signatures more than doubled the required 476.

Each filing has specific references to its county, Marker told The News after the Roosevelt County filing, but they mostly contain the same elements.

De Foor declined to say what was specific to Curry County in the filings, noting they were sealed at this point.

A spokesperson from the governor’s office has said the office does not comment on pending litigation, but noted courts have repeatedly upheld Lujan Grisham’s actions on public health mandates.

De Foor said organizers are hopeful to have the necessary signatures in Quay County this week.