Freedom Watch Ads Challenged by NM Democrats

Ahead of Thursday night's debate the Democratic Party of New Mexico and Chairman Brian S. Colón, Chairman filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against the New Mexico Republican Party, Freedom's Watch and Candidate for Congress, Sheriff Darren White. They say a Republican group, Freedom's Watch, is violating Federal Election laws and is coordinating its efforts with White's campaigns to produce and buy television ads, which is prohibited.

The parties statement said released by Conchita Cruz for the parties Executive Director Josh Geise said:

The Democratic Party of New Mexico believes that the attack ads coming from Freedom's Watch and the New Mexico Republican Party share more than just similarities. Both of these ads share the same photographs of Martin Heinrich and were produced by the firm Stevens, Reed, Curcio and Potholm, the same firm that produced the 2004 Swift Boat Veterans for Truth commercials.

The actions of the New Mexico Republican Party and Darren White are illegal and reckless. Does Sheriff Darren White think he is above the law? We call on Darren White to demand that Freedom's Watch stop airing their ads and cease this illegal activity on behalf of his campaign.

This is not the first time Freedom's Watch has been implicated in this type of scandal. In April 2008, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee charged that, in a special election for Congress in Louisiana, Freedom's Watch was running a television advertisement with a script that came from the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is illegal. Freedom's Watch is run and supported by several former officials of the Bush Administration.