New Mexico Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham reportedly used taxpayer dollars to fund personal expenditures again, this time paying for a baby shower, according to Breitbart News on Tuesday.
Grisham spent $112.70 from the state discretionary fund at a Party City in Santa Fe purchasing pink baby shower decorations from pacifier charms to plastic cups. When confronted about the purchases from January 2020, video footage from Breitbart News shows the governor denied them.
“I didn’t use state funds to pay for a baby shower. Maybe you should do your facts better,” Grisham admonished an anonymous cameraman.
“Nope, none,” she added, as she briskly walked off scene.
Breitbart, however, published two receipts detailing the purchases, including one for $68.91 and another for $43.79. A spokeswoman for the governor told the publication the receipt for $43.79 was “fully reimbursed” and that “no state funds ultimately went to this expense.”
“However, the spokeswoman did not respond about the video or the other recipient for $68.91,” Breitbart reported.
Grisham’s office did not immediately respond to The Federalist’s request for comment.
State discretionary funds spent on a baby shower are not the only time the governor has faced accusations of improper use.
In May, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported Grisham used the fund to pay for a mansion party the governor hosted last fall.
“Documents obtained under a public records request show New Mexicans for Michelle, the governor’s campaign committee, issued the state a $1,837 check in December to pay for expenses stemming from a Democratic Governors Association party hosted by Lujan Grisham in Santa Fe,” the paper reported. “The reimbursement appeared in the governor’s campaign finance reports as a ‘campaign event.’”
At the time, Grisham served as chair of the DGA.
Last year, local reporters with KOB4 also detailed purchases from the discretionary fund on high-priced groceries for the governor’s mansion including tuna steaks, Wagyu beef, top sirloin, and hundreds more on alcohol. The governor’s spending spree averaged more than $1,000 a month over a timeframe when New Mexicans were discouraged from going out or hosting functions by Grisham’s emergency health orders, according to KOB4.
Grisham is seen as a top target among Democrat incumbents by the Republican Governors Association this fall. Last month, Republicans nominated former New Mexico meteorologist Mark Ronchetti to unseat her in November.
Source: The Federalist
