U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury said is happy testify publicly as New Mexico’s Survivors’ Truth Commission is expected to depose several high-ranking Democrats.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury said she is happy to testify publicly as New Mexico’s Survivors’ Truth Commission is expected to depose several high-ranking Democrats.
Stansbury told KOB 4 she has not received anything from the commission made up of two Republicans and two Democrats and called its recent actions political.
“This is just another diversionary tactic, just like we’ve seen with Donald Trump, where they’re trying to undermine the only state truth commission in the United States that is actually investigating crimes,” Stansbury said. “This is disgusting. Survivors of sexual violence are demanding justice, and they are turning this into a political circus.”
“I am happy to testify in front of the New Mexico State Legislature under oath. I am happy to testify about the oversight work that we’ve done in Congress. I am happy to testify what we found to date,” Stansbury said. “But we need our colleagues across the aisle to stop playing games, to pursue justice, and to make sure that we are actually investigating and prosecuting the real crimes that were committed against young women here in New Mexico.”
Last week, KOB 4 reported the commission was expected to depose three prominent Democrats: gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland, Stansbury and former state Attorney General Gary King.
KOB 4 asked Stansbury whether she wanted the depositions to happen in public.
“Yes, absolutely. The people need to hear what we’ve been investigating in Congress,” Stansbury said. “And they don’t even have to depose me. I will gladly come and testify under oath in front of the commission.”
Over the past two weeks, reports about subpoenas leaked on social media. KOB 4 also reported last week on comments from Rep. Andrea Reeb about possible information involving Stansbury.
The quote can be found here: It reads, ““We do have confirmed information that you know Deb Haaland was on a flight, and I believe there’s some confirmed information that Rep. Melanie Stansbury may have been involved in some sort of form or fashion,” Commissioner Rep. Andrea Reeb said
When asked about that claim, Stansbury said she did not know what Reeb meant.
“I have no idea what she’s talking about. But again, let me just say, these are the kind of lies that the GOP is continuing to traffic in to divert away from actual crimes that were committed,” Stansbury said. “And I think using survivors and their trauma in a case that involves actual crimes against women. It’s disgusting. And I have no association with this case other than since day one, when we began this investigation in Congress, actually pursuing to hold those accountable who committed crimes.”
Click here to see the full exchange.
