Dianna Duran, New Mexico’s Republican secretary of state, was charged with identity theft on Friday, after previously being charged with 64 crimes related to fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Duran (pictured above on the right) has been accused of using her campaign funds for personal expenses at casinos and jewelry stores. The latest criminal complaint from the New Mexico attorney general’s office alleges that Duran forged the signature of a former state senator on her campaign finance reports, according to the LA Times. She claimed that former New Mexico state Sen. Don Kidd (R) was her campaign’s treasurer, but Kidd denies that he was part of her campaigns, according to the LA Times.
When asked by an investigator with the attorney general’s office why Duran listed him as her treasurer, Kidd said, “Well, I have no idea. I just don’t know, that’s amazing,” according to the LA Times.
Last month, Duran plead not guilty to the charges of fraud and embezzlement after she was accused of funneling campaign funds to her personal bank accounts.
Correction: The original version of this post mistakenly attributed the quote — “Well, I have no idea. I just don’t know, that’s amazing.” — to Duran, but as the LA Times reported, it was said by Kidd. We regret the error.
