New Mexico Gov. Accused of Wasting Taxpayer Dollars on Booze and Gourmet Food

Even as Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was telling New Mexicans that life had to be hard and locked down amid the coronavirus pandemic, she was spending money on high-priced luxuries, according to a new report.

Documents show that among nearly $13,500 spent by the office through its discretionary fund in the second half of 2020, more than $6,500 has doled out for Wagyu beef, tuna steaks and bottles of tequila, vodka, gin, wine and beer, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

“It really appears in the Governor’s Office as if she really believes herself to be more privileged than everybody else in New Mexico,” said Republican state House Minority Whip Rod Montoya, who said the governor has a salary that should cover her food needs.

“I didn’t realize the governor was so underpaid that she has to use discretionary money for things that she should be paying for herself,” he said. “Legislators are all up here doing our job, and we’re doing it on per diem.”

Republican state House Minority Leader Jim Townsend said Lujan Grisham crossed a line.

“It’s not what tax dollars ought to be spent for,” he said. “In the time when people are hurting all over the state, using their tax dollars to buy Wagyu beef has got to be a little bit disenchanting to many people. I think it’s just more of indication of the problem that we have had and the governor has had connecting with people.”

The governor was also being criticized for holding in-person meetings with select groups of state officials and legislators.

Townsend said Lujan Grisham was “acting like she’s better than everyone else.”