WE’RE INTO THE THIRD DAY OF THE PUBLIC CORRUPTION TRIAL OF FORMER STATE SENATOR PHIL GRIEGO. HE’S ACCUSED OF SELLING A STATE-OWNED PROPERTY IN DOWNTOWN SANTA FE AND MAKING 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM IT.
DAY-TWO OF THE TRIAL HAD LAWYERS DISPUTING A KEY POINT THAT’S EXPECTED TO BECOME A STICKING POINT FOR THE JURY: WHO WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE SALE OF THAT STATE PROPERTY IN 2014. PROSECUTORS INSIST IT WAS GRIEGO PUSHING THE SALE ALONG. BUT GRIEGO’S LAWYER SAYS IT WAS THE STATE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT DRIVING THE SALE. THE DEPARTMENT HAD PREVIOUSLY LEASED THE PROPERTY.
