New Mexico Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez is due to appear in court in September following the execution of an arrest warrant against him by El Paso, Texas, police in March, according to court documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
The congressman, who narrowly won his seat in 2022, failed to appear in court more than two decades ago after being charged with driving without a license, driving without insurance, and disregarding an official traffic control device.
Rep. Gabe Vasquez Due in Court After Texas Police Execute Arrest Warrant Against Him, Court Docs Show https://t.co/HaQgbiPhRT
— Don Storms (@DonStorms3) May 25, 2024
Police cited Vasquez for failure to appear in court in September 2007 and issued a warrant for his arrest in April 2008. The warrant was executed on March 19, 2024, and Vasquez paid a nearly $900 cash bond, pleaded no contest, and waived his right to a jury trial. If he fails to appear at the pre-trial hearing in September, he will face a conviction and forfeiture of his bond.
Vasquez’s campaign manager, Dylan McArthur, stated that the traffic fines from over two decades ago, when the congressman was 18 years old, have been paid off and no further action has been requested. The congressman, who lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but was born in El Paso, Texas, did not publicly address the ordeal and continued to conduct business as usual.
Rep. Gabe Vasquez Due in Court After Texas Police Execute Arrest Warrant Against Him, Court Docs Show https://t.co/GpI1V1gEab
Takes a looooong time to go after a democrat 🙄
— persistantNagatha 🇺🇸🍊 (@kmcccomcastnet) May 25, 2024
The revelation of the arrest warrant comes as Vasquez, who portrayed himself as a champion of law enforcement during his 2022 campaign, faces a rematch against Republican Yvette Herrell in November. Prior to his congressional run, Vasquez had been critical of law enforcement and expressed interest in cutting police budgets and reforming law enforcement practices while serving on the Las Cruces City Council.
