Failed Republican Candidate Gets 80 Years for Hiring Gunmen to Attack Democrats’ Homes

 

Solomon Peña, a failed Republican candidate in New Mexico, has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for orchestrating a series of politically motivated shootings targeting Democratic officials. Federal prosecutors said Peña arranged drive-by attacks on four homes in Albuquerque, including that of the state house speaker, after losing his 2022 bid for a state legislative seat. The attacks took place between December 2022 and January 2023, with no injuries reported. Peña, however, was convicted earlier this year on 13 felony charges, including conspiracy, firearms offenses, and interference with federally protected activities. Authorities said his actions were driven by unfounded conspiracy theories that the election had been stolen from him. The sentencing comes amid broader concerns over politically motivated violence in the United States. U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison emphasized that such intimidation tactics have no place in a democratic system.

Prosecutors revealed that Peña pressured members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners not to certify his election loss. When they refused, he recruited Jose Trujillo and Demetrio Trujillo to carry out the shootings. Both men pleaded guilty in 2024. The case has drawn parallels to other high-profile incidents of political violence, such as the 2022 hammer attack on the husband of U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi. It also reflects the ongoing influence of false claims of widespread election fraud a narrative that gained prominence after former President Donald Trump refused to accept his defeat in the 2020 election. While Peña’s defense attorney, Nicholas Hart, has said his client plans to appeal the conviction, the lengthy sentence sends a clear message about the consequences of politically motivated threats and violence. Officials say the case underscores the urgent need to protect public servants from intimidation, particularly as the political climate grows increasingly polarized.

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