Secretary of State Dianna Duran is asking for an extension to mount her defense against corruption charges, arguing in a court motion filed this week that more time is needed to further review whether Attorney General Hector Balderas’ office violated New Mexico grand jury laws and Duran’s right to privacy in its investigation. Among other allegations raised in the motion filed in District Court in Santa Fe, Duran’s attorney claimed the Attorney General’s Office appears to have accessed information about Duran’s personal banking accounts without having a court order or subpoena.
“It is manifestly unjust to expect the defense to be prepared to challenge the allegations against Ms. Duran in less than 30 days,” Duran’s attorney, Erlinda Johnson, wrote in the court motion. “The prosecution has had more than one year to prepare and analyze the technical documents gathered.”
The Attorney General’s Office, in a response filed Wednesday, urged District Judge Glenn Ellington to reject the motion to grant Duran more time. Specifically, the AG’s Office described Duran’s motion as misguided and premature, pointing out that a preliminary hearing has not been held to determine whether probable cause exists for Duran’s case to go to trial.
Full Article: Dianna Duran wants more time to mount defense; AG’s Office says request misguided | Albuquerque Journal News.
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