New Mexico Indian Affairs appointee accused of rape in 2007

A erstwhile politician of a New Mexico pueblo appointed earlier this period to oversee nan state's Indian Affairs Department, including its specialized task unit addressing crimes against Indigenous women and girls, was accused of rape successful 2007.

James Mountain was indicted nan pursuing twelvemonth connected charges of kidnapping and aggravated battery aft his ex-girlfriend accused him of intersexual assault, nan Santa Fe New Mexican reported. The lawsuit was dismissed successful 2010 aft prosecutors said they did not person capable grounds for Mountain to guidelines trial.

Mountain did not respond to question and reply requests from nan newspaper and could not instantly beryllium reached Saturday by The Associated Press for comment.

On Friday, arsenic calls for Mountain’s recusal from authorities leaders and activists continued to surface, a spokesperson for New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisahm said nan politician was "aware" of nan allegations against Mountain but does not intend to retreat her nomination.

"We dream that those who are leveling concerns would respect nan judicial process and admit nan results," Maddy Hayden said successful a statement.

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The New Mexico Indian Affairs appointee who will oversee nan Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Task Force was accused of rape successful 2007. 

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Lujan Grisham announced successful early February that she had chosen Mountain to beryllium nan state’s adjacent caput of Indian Affairs successful a connection highlighting his history arsenic a leader successful Pueblo de San Ildefonso. Mountain served arsenic politician 2006-2007 and 2015-2017.

His assignment has not yet been confirmed by nan authorities Senate Rules Committee.

Democratic authorities Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez told nan Santa Fe New Mexican that nan allegations against Mountain should beryllium "fully vetted."

"I’m very troubled by nan thought of having personification pinch his benignant of grounds successful that position that oversees nan Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Task Force," she said.

Angel Charley, executive head of nan Albuquerque-based Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, told nan newspaper connected Friday that she met pinch Mountain successful mid-February and asked him to recuse himself. Charley said that Mountain declined to do so.