March 22, 2018 • Regional News
Albuquerque, NM KOB 4: Lujan Grisham files restraining order against former intern
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham has filed a restraining order on a transgender woman, citing concern for the safety of the Congresswoman.
In 2015, Riley Del Rey interned in Lujan Grisham's Washington office. Del Rey claims that Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., fired her after she discovered she's transgender.
Lujan Grisham, now a candidate for New Mexico governor, has disputed that claim. In the last few months, Del Rey has been attending Lujan Grisham's campaign events to protest.
Court filings describe two occasions where Lujan Grisham felt Del Rey put her safety at risk. The first was in February while the congresswoman was on a Santa Fe panel.
Del Rey recorded it. Lujan Grisham did not answer Del Rey's questions about if she would address the claims. In the video, a woman told Del Rey that Lujan Grisham couldn't meet with her until the employment complaint from Washington is cleared up.
Del Rey spoke to KOB via Facetime because she is currently in Washington.
"Having an air horn at an event is not illegal," she said. "Disrupting a candidate or voicing political dissidence is not illegal and it's not a danger to anything other than her reputation."
Del Rey also attended a Democratic Party pre-primary convention this month, where she again used an air horn to protest when Lujan Grisham spoke. APD arrested her, claiming she kicked one man and tried to kick another as police escorted her out. APD charged her with disorderly conduct and assault.
"I think showing up to these political events is showing our political leaders that they are being challenged to do better," she said. "The reason why we've been protesting Michelle specifically is because we have not been given the same opportunities to meet with her as we have with candidates like Jeff Apodaca or Joe Cervantes. Michelle Lujan Grisham is the only candidate who refuses to meet with our campaign."
Lujan Grisham's office sent this statement to KOB on the matter:
"I can confirm that a District Court Judge has independently decided to issue a temporary restraining order after reviewing evidence of Ms. Del Rey’s recent escalating threatening behavior toward Rep. Lujan Grisham and those around her. The TRO has absolutely no impact on Ms. Del Rey’s ability to engage in dispute resolution or any other legal process available to her under the law. The Office takes the security of the Congresswoman and her staff very seriously in order to ensure they can continue to serve the people of New Mexico."
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