As we announced last year, Steve Pearce is our choice for governor, acknowledging that in New Mexico a great number of things have to go well for any Republican to win any statewide race. We can also see that Trump's personal conduct is not helping the cause, and there’s not much anyone can do about that, for now. *(See below for the irony regarding Trump's position today)
Meanwhile for Pearce, there's lots of good news: Steve Pearce is the first Republican candidate for an open New Mexico gubernatorial seat in 54 years to face no primary opponent. Not since Merle H. Tucker got the 1964 nomination has there been a free ride for a non-incumbent Republican running for governor. That saves tremendous amounts of money, not to mention the potential damage that hotly contested primaries can cause.
And Pearce has a good-sized war chest, more than any Democrat, and is raising money at a healthy rate. On the other side, the Michelle Lujan Grisham-Jeff Apodaca-Joseph Cervantes primary showdown could produce some fireworks, leaving the winner with some open wounds that could have a lasting effect during the general election. But even if the three Democrats melt down, Pearce still has to play a near-perfect hand. He can have no unforced errors, and no self-inflicted wounds.
CYBER-SECURITY: A TWO-EDGED SWORD FOR PEARCE?
With the constant talk about the Russians and the Chinese, one big issue on the horizon is cyber-security. And Congressman Pearce has been holding hearings and playing a leading role on this critical issue. Chairing a recent hearing, Pearce said:
"An increasing amount of cyber-attacks have led to …identity theft…and other types of fraud. Cyber-theft is particularly damaging…sensitive information [is] being stolen. I thank the witnesses...for discussing how we can combat these cyber-attacks and protect Americans’ sensitive information.”
Those are good sentiments, and by all accounts Pearce is on the right track by showing leadership and getting out front on this crucial domestic and national security issue. Here’s the problem:
According to reports filed on Monday, Steve Pearce has hired Anissa Ford, apparently to be a part of both his congressional staff as well as his campaign staff. Either way, the Democrats could seize on the hire. Here’s why:
In 2012, Anissa Ford’s home was raided by the FBI after the FBI verified her involvement in a cyber-security matter, namely the theft and distribution of Governor Susana Martinez’s private political and campaign emails. As it turns out, Ford was involved in an email theft ring with multiple Democrat leaders, including the State Party Chairman Sam Bregman, his aide Jason Loera, and another operative by the name of Jamie Estrada.
Eventually, Loera pled guilty to child pornography charges and is currently in prison, while Estrada was charged with stealing the Governor’s emails and ended up serving a year in a federal prison in Colorado.
Ford, who was represented by the law firm of yet another former Democrat Party Chairman, John Wertheim, negotiated a deal with federal prosecutors to flip on her "friends" and testify before the federal grand jury. Ford got a deal for immunity, which helped her avoid trial and prison. In exchange, the prosecutors got the details of the theft and the illegal dissemination from someone on the inside.
STAFF INVOLVEMENT IN EMAIL THEFT IS NOT EXACTLY THE BEST WAY TO ESTABLISH “CYBER-SECURITY” CREDENTIALS—BUT FORD ALSO WORKED ENTHUSIASTICALLY FOR DEMOCRATS
Text messages seized by the FBI in the criminal investigation reveal the extreme degree to which Ford and others were using the stolen emails to attack Governor Martinez and other Republicans. It was an ongoing effort where the Democrats, along with Ford and Estrada, conspired together to distribute the stolen emails, and otherwise attack Republicans, in ways that would be the most damaging, and most advantageous to Democrats.
After Estrada stole the emails, Ford was texting with the Democrat operative Loera that she was working to convince Estrada to push the emails out to the public:
On June 12, 2012, as the first stolen email was leaked to the press, Anissa Ford texted Jason Loera that she had convinced Estrada to provide all the stolen emails to Michael Corwin, a long-time Democrat operative who was running a union-funded website to attack Republicans.
- Anissa Ford to Jason Loera: “Got Jamie convinced. Have good stuff for u today.”
Then on June 17, 2012, Ford reported to the Democrats about her efforts to convince Jamie Estrada to reveal more stolen emails and provide access to the entire stolen email cache:
- Loera: “I think Jamie should give me the pw ASAP. So I can dl. Go daddy may wipe it.”
- Ford: “Jamie wanting to hold off on emails again. He is wiggin’ again. Call when you can.”
Then, on the day Estrada was confronted by the FBI about his potential role in the email theft, Anissa immediately went to Bregman and Loera for help.
- Anissa Ford to Sam Bregman (Democrat State Party Chair): “Need to talk to one of u ASAP. 911”
After the conversation, Ford texted Bregman again to thank him for the support the two Democrats provided:
- Anissa Ford: “Can’t thank you both enough for your support and friendship. Means a great deal to both me and Jamie. Always knew we would have this to face but it’s scary when it actually hits.”
Buoyed by the “support and friendship” of the Democrat operatives, the attacks by Ford and Estrada on Republicans only increased.
On August 10, 2012, two of the Democrat operatives and Ford bragged and toasted each other about negative stories they had planted about Republicans on a Democrat blog and in the Albuquerque Journal:
- Michael Corwin: “….Amazing expose!”
- Jason Loera: “Great Monahan. Grab the Journal today. They hit Rogers.”
- Michael Corwin: “Love love love it!!!!”
- Anissa Ford: “Ditto!! HaHa”
A text from on September 1, 2012 highlights the extreme hatred Ford directed at Republicans and her pride in assisting the Democrats in their efforts to attack Republicans.
- Anissa Ford: “We are going to take this bitch down! I fucking HATE her!”
- Jason Loera: “Enjoy your weekend knowing that next week will be the greatest political scandal in the history of NM. It’s a long way down for SM [Susana Martinez]. It will be stretching her spanks to the limit!!!”
- Anissa Ford: “Hahahahahha So glad to have met you guys. It’s gonna be. Great ride.”
- Jason Loera: “Must say with you and JE (Jamie Estrada) we make a great team and that’s half the battle.”
- Anissa Ford: “Awww. Thanks. Proud to be part of it. And I can’t fucking wait till Tuesday! Hahaha.
- Loera: “Indeed. The anticipation makes me feel like a kid! Like waiting to get on a cool ride at the state fair ;) wheee”
IT WASN’T JUST CYBERTHEFT THAT FORD WAS INVOLVED IN: SHE WANTED TO DEFEAT REPUBLICANS
But it wasn’t just Governor Martinez that Ford was willing to attack. She helped in the campaign for Democrat Mark D'Antonio to defeat Republican Amy Orlando for District Attorney in Doña Ana County. Estrada and Ford misled the Doña Ana Republican Party in order to gain inside information to assist their client, a Democrat running against a Republican.
The text messages are replete with efforts to assist Democrats and defeat the Republican, with texts from Ford making it crystal clear that money was moving from Democrat PACs to the campaign.
Ford texted on October 17, 2012:
“Anyway we can get that money ASAP? Money is very low and just did another mailer. Need to pay some bills.”
CLOSING IN ON THE CYBER-THEFT RING
As the FBI continued its investigation, shortly after the 2012 election, the concerns about the legality of the email theft and illegal dissemination focused on Loera, Ford, and Bregman.
On November 19, 2012, according to search warrant affidavits, the FBI raided the homes of Ford and Loera. At Loera’s home, the FBI stumbled across child pornography, which would later send him to prison.
Ford, clearly recognizing the gig was up and that she was in the sights, agreed to testify to the grand jury and rat out her co-conspirators in exchange for immunity for her part in the theft and illegal dissemination of stolen emails. (NOTE: This puts her almost on par with Clinton operatives Cheryl Mills—who ratted out Hillary’s unsecured email server situation in exchange for immunity. In fact, Mills and Ford both belong in the “Cyber Security Hall of Fame.”)
FORD THEN APPEARS TO MANEUVER PEARCE INTO A COMPROMISING SITUATION, POSSIBLY GETTING HIM TO SPEND TIME WORKING TO ASSIST A CYBER-THIEF
Ford, apparently feeling guilty for her grand jury testimony that landed Estrada in jail, attempted to call in some favors from the Democrats she had served so well. After Jamie was convicted and sentenced to prison, Ford was working with union operative Michael Corwin (again, Richardson’s former opposition researcher and the man who created the website to attack Republicans) to enlist his help and other high-profile Democrats to get Estrada out of prison. Corwin agreed to talk to Richardson and the Democrat congressional delegation, presumably stressing Estrada’s (and Ford’s) services to the Democratic Party.
Ford insisted that she had convinced Steve Pearce to support a pardon or commutation.
The fact that Ford would carelessly tie Steve Pearce to a collection of shady Democratic operatives in a fool-hardy endeavor to assist a cyber-thief could be used to undermine Pearce's credibility on cyber-security and the all-important issue of personal privacy.
FORD'S EFFORTS TO DEFEAT REPUBLICANS FAILED
Fortunately for Republicans in New Mexico, the efforts to attack Republican candidates not only failed, they backfired. The truth was revealed and the culprits were exposed, with both Loera and Estrada going to prison.
Moreover, Governor Martinez was re-elected by a record margin and Republicans won control of the state House in 2014.
EMAIL THEFT LAWSUITS AGAINST FORD
Ford and company were later sued in federal court for their roles in the email thefts. They were forced to settle for an undisclosed, though likely large, sum of money. While the entire depth and specific details of Ford’s work for the Democrats was not disclosed, the documents made public in the criminal and civil lawsuits establish her willingness to use any means available to attack Republicans, including facilitating the theft of private emails and the dissemination of personal information.
Sadly, these efforts to attack Governor Martinez and further divide the party have never stopped, with Anissa Ford playing a central role. This makes her paid position with the Pearce campaign and the Pearce Congressional staff even that more puzzling.
WILL THE DEMOCRATS TURN ON THEIR OWN DOUBLE AGENT FORD AND HIT PEARCE AT CRUNCH TIME?
As we have noted for more than a year, we strongly support the Republican nominee for Governor—as we do all Republican candidates up and down the ticket. We do point out the divisive figures that have used positions within the Republican Party of New Mexico to pursue their own, highly personal, agendas—agendas that have nothing at all to do with electing Republicans. As an example, Ford was also very intensely concerned about re-electing former Democrat Senator Tim Jennings of Roswell when he was being supported by “Republican” Harvey Yates—who now serves as Republican National Committeeman.
It is our hope and prayer that the good work Pearce is doing on Cyber Security will not be used against him by Democrats who could easily point out that his own staffer is one of the perpetrators in the biggest cyber-security theft in New Mexico history. While Republicans are united behind Pearce, Democrats have the luxury of waiting as long as they need to for the moment they choose to spring a surprise on Pearce—much as Yates did on Republican state senate candidate Cliff Pirtle in 2012 (albeit unsuccessfully).
If they do, it could be a principal contributor to a Republican loss in the race for governor. It would be an unforced error of the first magnitude if the Democrats’ alliance with Ford and company succeeds beyond their wildest imaginations and becomes the final chapter of a cyber-theft fiasco that began six years ago.
*It is a supreme irony of our time that the Trump Administration has been remarkably successful in both domestic and foreign policy, while the American public reaction to Trump personally is disproportionately negative. Those two juxtaposed realities are leaving Republicans all over the country very frustrated, and polls show (at least for now) that 2018 is shaping up to be a difficult year. After all, why should demonstrably positive turnarounds from the policy disasters left by Obama not be rewarded? Why can’t Republicans benefit from what they have achieved? Right now it looks as though the answer may simply be Trump himself—too much tweeting, too much ad libbing, too much exposure. We’ll see. Things could take a turn for the better, poll-wise, and we certainly hope they do.
Email us (at nmpj@dfn.com) with your feedback, comments, questions and ideas.