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Testimony opens in Solomon Pe帽a's political shootings trial

Solomon Pena Republican Candidate for New Mexico House District 14 arrested by APD

Solomon Pe帽a, former Republican candidate for New Mexico House District 14, is taken into custody by Albuquerque Police officers in Southwest Albuquerque on Jan. 16, 2023.

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Solomon Pe帽a
Solomon Pe帽a

Testimony began Tuesday in the trial of Solomon Pe帽a on federal charges alleging he orchestrated a string of shootings at the homes of Democratic elected officials following the 2022 election.

Federal prosecutors told jurors that Pe帽a believed that a 鈥渞igged鈥 election had robbed him of victory in a state contest, prompting him to respond with violence.

Pe帽a鈥檚 attorney told jurors that the case against his client relies on the testimony of two men who bear full responsibility for the shootings and struck deals with prosecutors in exchange for favorable sentences.

鈥淪olomon Pe帽a had nothing whatsoever to do with it,鈥 defense attorney Nicholas Hart said in opening statements.

Pe帽a was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023, alleging he 鈥渙rganized a shooting spree that targeted the homes of four elected officials and their families.鈥

The mix of election fraud conspiracies in the wake of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot, combined with violence directed at elected Democratic politicians, made the case the focus of national media attention.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Cordova told jurors Tuesday that Pe帽a paid and pressured Demetrio Trujillo, 42, and his son, Jose Trujillo, 24, to carry out the shooting attacks on the homes of the four elected officials in December 2022 and January 2023.

Both of the Trujillos pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple federal charges and face sentences of up to life in prison. Neither man has been scheduled for a sentencing hearing.

Cordova also told jurors that Pe帽a himself fired gunshots at the home of state Sen. Linda Lopez on Jan. 3, 2023, when bullets penetrated the bedrooms of both Lopez and her 10-year-old daughter as they slept.

鈥淭his time, (Pe帽a) wanted to be the one who pulled the trigger,鈥 Cordova said of the Lopez shooting in opening statements.

Pe帽a, who has remained in federal custody since his arrest more than two years ago, appeared in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque dressed in a black suit, a white shirt and lavender-striped tie.

Pe帽a faces 13 federal charges, including multiple felony counts of using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, including one count that alleges he discharged a machine gun.

He also faces charges of solicitation to commit a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm, four counts of interference with federally protected activities and conspiracy. Pe帽a faces possible life in prison if convicted on all charges.

The trial is expected to continue through March 21 before U.S. District Judge Kea W. Riggs.

Pe帽a allegedly conspired with the Trujillos to target the homes of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, former commissioner Debbie O鈥橫alley, House Speaker Javier Mart铆nez and Lopez.

Demetrio Trujillo, wearing shackles and handcuffs and wearing a red-and-white striped prison uniform, testified Tuesday that Pe帽a hired him to fire gunshots at the homes of Barboa and Mart铆nez, paying Trujillo $700 per shooting.

鈥淗e just said to go by and shoot it up and record it and show him the video,鈥 Trujillo said of the shootings. Pe帽a texted him the addresses and Trujillo said he didn鈥檛 know at the time who lived in the homes.

He was accompanied by two friends, one of whom recorded the shootings on his cellphone, Trujillo testified. Pe帽a appeared disappointed by the videos, he said.

鈥淗e said, 鈥楴ext time, can鈥檛 you make it more aggressive?鈥欌 Trujillo said. 鈥淚 felt he wanted to get somebody hurt by making that request.鈥

Trujillo said Pe帽a tried to interest him in shooting up a third house, but Trujillo rejected the request. Instead, Pe帽a turned to Trujillo鈥檚 son, Jose Trujillo, who participated in the shootings at the homes of O鈥橫alley and Lopez, Demetrio Trujillo testified.

Jose Trujillo is expected to testify later in the trial.

Defense attorney Hart urged jurors to remain skeptical of the testimony of both Trujillos.

鈥淚t was Demetrio and Jose who were responsible for the shootings,鈥 Hart told jurors. Both men still face sentencing and want favorable sentences in exchange for their testimony, he said.

Prosecutors countered that the Trujillos were largely uneducated and had no interest in politics. Only Pe帽a had the motivation to take action against elected officials, Cordova told jurors.

Pe帽a told two county commissioners that 鈥渢he election was rigged and he was the real winner,鈥 Cordova said.

Barboa testified Tuesday that Pe帽a showed up at her door in November 2022 and claimed that fraud was responsible for his nearly 50-point loss in November 2022 to incumbent state Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, D-Albuquerque.

Pe帽a compared his loss to that of President Donald Trump鈥檚 defeat in the 2020 presidential election, Barboa testified.

Pe帽a told Barboa that he knew the election was rigged because he had campaigned door-to-door and had received assurances from thousands of voters that he would have their support.

Pe帽a recorded his conversation with Barboa without her knowledge, she testified. Prosecutors played the recording for jurors Tuesday.

鈥淚t was rigged, it was rigged,鈥 Pe帽a told Barboa in the recording. Pe帽a asked Barboa to provide him with election data that he said would prove that he had won the contest.

Steven Michael Quezada, a former Bernalillo County commissioner, testified that he had a similar conversation with Pe帽a in November shortly before the commission certified the outcome of the November 2022 election.

Pe帽a sent a text message to Quezada on Nov. 18, 2022, urging him to seek access to the Bernalillo County election data.

鈥淵ou will instantly become a national hero,鈥 Pe帽a wrote in the text. 鈥淢e and my boys will provide armed security for you.鈥

Quezada said he didn鈥檛 take up Pe帽a鈥檚 offer of armed protection in exchange for the election data.

鈥淚鈥檓 good. I don鈥檛 need anybody to protect me,鈥 Quezada testified.

Pe帽a鈥檚 trial, originally scheduled in June 2024, has been dogged by delays, including the resignation of his previous attorney, Elizabeth Honce, resulting in the cancellation of his trial in September. Honce declined to say why she resigned from the case.