It was a plot ripped straight from a political thriller—only this time, it was all too real.
Solomon Peña, a far-right Republican who once campaigned for a New Mexico state House seat, will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being sentenced to 80 years in federal prison for masterminding a drive-by shooting spree aimed at Democratic officials.
Peña’s descent into political violence began after his 2022 election defeat. Prosecutors say he refused to concede, echoing Donald Trump’s false claims of widespread voter fraud that had already poisoned the nation’s politics. Peña went as far as pleading with his local county commission not to certify the results.
When officials refused, Peña escalated—paying four hired gunmen to open fire on the homes and offices of two Democratic county commissioners, a state representative, and a state senator.
“These attacks weren’t random,” U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez said in court. “They were calculated acts of political terror designed to intimidate elected officials into silence.”
The shootings, carried out over several weeks, left bullet holes in walls just feet from where children had been sleeping. “The idea that someone would target public servants—and endanger kids in the process—is sickening,” said Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, one of Peña’s targets.
Miraculously, no one was physically injured. But the trauma, Barboa said, lingers: “It’s something you don’t ever forget. You’re not supposed to wonder if your job will get you killed.”
Court records revealed that Peña’s violence didn’t end with the gunfire. Once arrested, he tried to arrange the murders of his accomplices to keep them from testifying against him—a move prosecutors say shows his “utter disregard for human life and the law.”
Peña was convicted in March on 13 federal charges, including conspiracy, weapons violations, and interference with federally protected activities.
Violence against elected officials has surged in recent years, a trend that critics say has been fueled by extremist rhetoric and Trump’s continued attacks on democratic institutions. The stakes have never been higher: just this past June, two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota were assassinated in separate attacks—an unprecedented and chilling sign of where political hatred can lead.
“Every public official should be able to serve without fearing for their life,” said Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM). “This is not the America our founders envisioned—and it’s certainly not one we should accept.”
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Oh wow Sent from my iPhone
Blah, Blah, Blah, What happened to President Lincoln, Trump and others who are public leaders. Plus, what’s the difference in the law if someone targets a leader or targets your neighbor or mine. Should be same penalty. Why would a felon get a more severe punishment than the rest of us. This is a left wing article. Take a look at the author and or the publication.
Sa
I guess we have a few nuts on this side of the fence also !
Nothing but democrat crying. They did not cry when they murdered JFK or his brother RFK. In fact their brother Teddy Kennedy never asked for a congressional investigation on the murders. The democrat party never investigated Teddy for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend. They support the BLM movement, the KKK, planned Parent hood, Illegals and any who break the law of the land like Biden the traitor. Anonymous you are right it is a left wing article called democrat BS. Just to say this fool should be put in the chair. He is not above the law.
Spent more ink on this article and the length of sentence that they do when Trump’s would be assassins. Probably put those guy on a 40 year prison sentence with possibility of parole after 6 months of good behavior.