Feds: Failed Candidate Tried to Have Witnesses Killed

UPDATE Mar 29, 2024 12:46 PM CDT

A failed GOP candidate awaiting trial on charges that he hired people to shoot at Democratic officials' homes in New Mexico has been hit with new charges. Solomon Pena, who has been in custody since his arrest early last year, allegedly tried to hire someone to kill two of his accomplices, the Albuquerque Journal reports. Defense attorney Elizabeth Honce, who described the charges as ludicrous, said the alleged targets were father and son Demetrio and Jose Trujillo, who took a plea deal earlier this year. According to a federal grand jury indictment, Pena made multiple attempts to hire someone to kill two people "expected to testify in an official proceeding." Pena allegedly orchestrated drive-by shootings at officials' homes after losing by nearly 50 points in a state House election he claimed was rigged.

Jan 17, 2023 12:48 AM CST

Police say a failed Republican political candidate hired four men to carry out shootings at the homes of elected Democratic officials in New Mexico. Solomon Pena, who has previously declared his support for former President Trump and may have attended the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, lost his bid for a state House seat in the last election, refused to concede, and blamed election fraud, Axios reports. The shootings took place at the homes of two county commissioners and two state legislators in December and January, and police believe Pena was present for at least one of them, the Albuquerque Journal reports.

Police also say that in November, Pena had gone to the homes of three of the officials who were later targeted in the shooting scheme, to complain that the election, which he lost by a wide margin, was fraudulent. The Albuquerque Police Department SWAT team surrounded a condo complex Monday afternoon, believing Pena may be armed, and announced, "Solomon Pena please come out with your hands up, we have the place surrounded." One man suspected to have been hired by Pena has been arrested and is facing federal drug trafficking and firearms charges, but the names of the other three suspects have not yet been released. (More New Mexico stories.)