New Mexicans call on Governor Martinez and GOP politicians to return contributions from corrupt Koch Brothers

$10,000 to Martinez, $10,000 to Pearce, $5,000 to State Party, from business interest that secretly and maybe illegally sold petrochemical equipment to terrorism-sponsor Iran

October 4, 2011 Contact: Scott Forrester
For Immediate Release (505) 934-5681

Albuquerque, NM – New Mexicans today are calling for politicians who have accepted contributions from Koch Industries and their political arm KOCHPAC to immediately return the money or donate it to charity.

A Bloomberg investigation revealed Sunday that David and Charles Koch – two of the largest funders of Republican causes in New Mexico and around the country – have built their company on corruption, greed, theft, intimidation and illegal business dealings for years.

It also revealed that they made millions of dollars selling petrochemical equipment to Iran – one of only four countries designated by the State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism.

What did they do with the money they made by doing business – possibly in violation of federal law – with the people behind some of our worst enemies? At least a portion of it rolled right into the pockets of some of New Mexico’s highest profile Republican politicians.

According to the New Mexico Secretary of State election filings, Koch Industries and their political action committee KOCHPAC gave $10,000 to Governor Susana Martinez, $5,000 to the Republican Campaign Committee of New Mexico, and $10,000 to Congressman Steve Pearce during the 2010 election.

The following is a statement from Javier Gonzales, Chairman, DPNM:

“Koch Industries has betrayed their country – and may have broken federal law in the process – all to turn a profit. They’ve made millions on business dealings with a terrorist-supporting foreign country.

It’s dirty money. And now it’s being funneled directly into the bank accounts of Republican leadership. This money should be returned or donated to charities doing real work to move New Mexico forward.

Politicians have no business taking money from people who do business with countries like Iran that sponsor terrorism. Every Republican who benefited from the Koch's illegal profiteering should immediately denounce the Koch Brothers and return or donate the money."

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BACKGROUND:

· According to the Bloomberg report, “Internal company records show that Koch Industries used its foreign subsidiary to sidestep a U.S. trade ban barring American companies from selling materials to Iran. Koch-Glitsch offices in Germany and Italy continued selling to Iran until as recently as 2007, the records show.

“The company’s products helped build a methanol plant for Zagros Petrochemical Co., a unit of Iran’s state-owned National Iranian Petrochemical Co., the documents show. The facility, in the coastal city of Bandar Assaluyeh, is now the largest methanol plant in the world.”

A former Koch Industries employee told Bloomberg that “Every single chance they had to do business with Iran…they did.”

· In a 2009 report, the State Department called Iran the most active state sponsor of terrorism, stating “Iran’s financial, material, and logistic support for terrorist and militant groups throughout the Middle East and Central Asia had a direct impact on international efforts to promote peace, threatened economic stability in the Gulf and undermined the growth of democracy.”

· Records show that the Republican committee receiving Koch Brothers funding provided polling, fundraising, direct mail, postage and direct contributions to unidentified state candidates and county political parties through at least 27 different transactions after receiving Koch money.

Martinez has also since started her own PAC, known as SusanaPAC, with $5,000 transferred from the same campaign account Koch money entered.

For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester
February 2, 2011 505-934-5681

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- The following is a statement from DPNM Secretary and Las Cruces resident Christy French upon learning Gov. Susana Martinez had made the appointments to fill vacancies on the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces. The appointments are Susan M. Riedel and Jacinto Palomino. Ms. Riedel and Mr. Palomino, both Republicans. Riedel has been the chief deputy district attorney in Las Cruces, and Palomino is a deputy district attorney in the office.

"This is a clear case of cronyism and political payback for a loyal soldier. Gov. Martinez talks about changing the way business is done but her actions show she's just another back-room dealer. First she let lawyers and lobbyists try to stop clean-water protections now she gives a long-time friend and recipient of huge tax-payer bonuses a plum judgeship. Typical."

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Background:
Martinez Gave Lavish Wall Street Style Bonuses To Senior Staff

Name Date Amount Title

Susan Riedel 10/7/05 $9,194.43 Chief Deputy District Attorney
Susan Riedel 8/25/06 $10,471.00 Chief Deputy District Attorney
Susan Riedel 7/27/07 $7,290.64 Chief Deputy District Attorney
Susan Riedel 7/25/08 $7,644.84 Chief Deputy District Attorney
Susan Riedel 7/24/09 $7,253.32 Chief Deputy District Attorney

Source:
[Martinez 41, Payroll Records, Administrative Office of District Attorneys, accessed 4/22/10; Martinez 42, Payroll Records, Administrative Office of District Attorneys, accessed 4/22/10; Susana Martinez 6, State Of New Mexico Third Judicial District Attorney Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/05; Susana Martinez 7, State Of New Mexico Third Judicial District Attorney Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/05; Susana Martinez 8, State Of New Mexico Third Judicial District Attorney Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/05; Susana Martinez 9, State Of New Mexico Third Judicial District Attorney Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/05]

Martinez’s Employee Jacinto Palomino Helped Himself To A Hooters Meal On The Taxpayers Dime. On September 19, 2008, Susana Martinez’s employee, Jacinto Palomino stopped at a Bloomington, Minnesota Hooters for hot wings and tea. The bill was a total of $14.91. [Minnesota Hooters Receipt, 9/19/08]