Recording suggests New Mexico governor inebriated at party

Audio recordings of an awkward exchange between police and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez at a holiday party could spell trouble for an emerging star of the Republican Party.

Santa Fe police were called out to investigate multiple noise complaints coming from Martinez’s room last weekend, following a Christmas party at the El Dorado Hotel.

After learning of the complaint, Martinez personally intervened, prompting a hotel desk clerk to call authorities again, so that Martinez could speak to a dispatcher.

Meanwhile, Martinez’s political opponents are seizing on the opportunity, accusing the governor of misusing the police and abusing her power.

Martinez can repeatedly be heard during previously released recordings of dispatch calls, and on the newly released recording, insisting there was no more noise, demanding to know who complained, and telling police they could leave. “We said, ‘Get the hell out, ‘ and ‘stop'”.

“OK, so, obviously we’re not going to be able to move her”, Tapia tells a hotel security guard after his conversation with Martinez. Hotel staff said they’d asked the guests to be quiet and had received reports that someone was throwing bottles off the balcony.

Since the incident was reported, the Political Report says, Martinez has been contrite, though she has denied she was throwing bottles.

“Unbeknownst to the Governor, there had been complaints about noise and someone throwing what turned out to be snowballs from the balcony of that room earlier in the night while the governor was in the ballroom”.

So Martinez was lit and so was her “pizza” party. It is public record. Martinez immediately identified herself as the state’s governor and then asked why police were called.

Martinez’s office also reiterated Tuesday that the governor has previously said she had a drink and a half. It’s never been the governor-I would never expect the first time it would be the governor.

“I really don’t know what to do with the situation”, the guard responds. ProgressNow publishes the news website New Mexico Political Report, which first broke the story about the December 13 party on Friday and posted the audio captured by Tapia’s belt recorder Tuesday. But she also said she didn’t believe she abused her power.

“I also want to admit that I made a mistake when I went to speak to the receptionist and asked her about the complaint”.

But Tapia’s recording indicates that the hotel security guard thought Martinez was drunk.

“Yes”, the security guard says.

“Inebriated”, said Sgt. Anthony Tapia, finishing the sentence.

Martinez’s recorded dealings with police, dispatchers and hotel employees made her a wide target for criticism Friday.