In brief
Solomon Peña's conviction underscores a troubling incident of political violence in 2022-2023.
Despite losing his election bid in 2022, Solomon Peña, a former Republican candidate for a New Mexico statehouse seat, was convicted on 13 federal charges related to a series of drive-by shootings aimed at Democratic officials' homes. The jury's decision comes after Peña was accused of hiring gunmen to attack the residences of politicians, including a state senator, shortly after his defeat.The violent incidents, which unfolded between December 2022 and January 2023, left no one injured, but bullets struck a child's bedroom, raising alarms about political safety. Following approximately five hours of jury deliberation, Peña's lawyer announced plans to appeal the verdict, describing the trial as politically motivated.Peña was arrested in January 2023, with evidence indicating he had paid individuals to carry out the attacks and had directly communicated addresses for them. Even after his sizable electoral loss, Peña remained vocally opposed to the election results, claiming they were fraudulent. Prosecutors highlighted Peña’s troubling past, which included a 2008 conviction related to theft and other offenses. If sentenced under federal guidelines, he could face a minimum of 60 years in prison.
