SANTA FE – New Mexico Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer is accusing state Rep. Andrea Romero of improperly directing taxpayer money to the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office before later accepting a part-time job with the agency, an allegation the prosecutor’s office strongly denies.

Sharer, R-Farmington, said Tuesday that Romero, D-Santa Fe, sponsored $100,000 in capital outlay funding for the district attorney’s office during the 2026 legislative session. The office, led by District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies, hired Romero later in the year.

State capital outlay records show Romero allocated $50,000 toward equipment purchases for the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office and another $50,000 toward vehicle purchases. Other lawmakers also contributed funding to both projects.

“New Mexicans need to ask a simple question: did Representative Romero send $100,000 in taxpayer money to an office that turned around and put her on the payroll a few months later?” Sharer said in a statement.

Sharer characterized the arrangement as “pay to play” and “self-dealing,” while acknowledging the conduct may not have violated the law.

The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office rejected Sharer’s allegations.

Catherine Lynch, a spokesperson for the office, called allegations of a connection between the funding and Romero’s employment “patently false, outrageous and defamatory.”

“The FJDA rejects any suggestion that Andrea Romero’s employment was connected to capital outlay funding for this office,” Lynch said.

Lynch said the office considered whether Romero was legally permitted to hold the position and whether she was qualified for the work. She said Romero had sought guidance from the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office before accepting the job and that the district attorney’s office conducted its own ethics and conflict review.

New Mexico House Democrats also defended Romero, saying lawmakers routinely allocate capital outlay money to government entities in their districts.

Pamela Armstrong, a spokesperson for House Democrats, said every state lawmaker directs capital outlay funding to public bodies and that lawmakers frequently provide money to local district attorney offices. She also pointed to Republican lawmakers who have directed funding to school districts or other public entities with which they have professional connections.

The dispute comes amid broader scrutiny of Romero’s employment with the district attorney’s office.

Romero resigned from the position last week after Attorney General Raúl Torrez directed district attorneys across New Mexico not to employ sitting state lawmakers. Torrez said previous legal guidance from his office had been interpreted more broadly than intended.

Romero initially criticized the decision, saying she had previously sought authorization to hold both positions. She remains a member of the state House and chair of a legislative commission investigating the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to New Mexico.

Sharer and House Minority Whip Alan Martinez, R-Rio Rancho, have filed complaints against Romero with the State Ethics Commission. Sharer has also called for Romero to resign from the Legislature and step down as chair of the Epstein commission.

Romero did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sharer’s latest allegations.