GOVERNOR MARTINEZ COULD APPOINT A NEW STATE TAX AND REV SECRETARY ON FRIDAY. DEMESIA PADILLA RESIGNED FROM THE POSITION ABRUPTLY ON THURSDAY AFTER STATE INVESTIGATORS SEIZED HER TAX RETURNS AND THOSE OF HER HUSBAND ON WEDNESDAY. THE RECORDS COVER 2011 THROUGH 2013.
THE STATE IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER PADILLA FAILED TO REPORT INCOME SHE RECEIVED FROM A FORMER TAX CLIENT. THE CLIENT ALLEGES PADILLA TRANSFERRED MONEY FROM THE COMPANY’S ACCOUNT WITHOUT PERMISSION. THE WARRANT AFFIDAVIT SAYS PADILLA “DID NOT REPORT ANY INCOME SHE RECEIVED….ON HER YEARLY FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS.”
THE INVESTIGATION ACTUALLY STARTED IN JULY OF 2015 AFTER THE A-G’S OFFICE RECEIVED A LETTER ALLEGING ILLEGAL AND FINANCIALLY QUESTIONABLE ACTS BY PADILLA, WHO WAS APPOINTED CABINET SECRETARY IN 2011.
PADILLA IS NOT THE FIRST CABINET SECRETARY TO RESIGN. DIANNA DURAN STEPPED DOWN AS SECRETARY OF STATE LAST YEAR DUE TO A FRAUD INVESTIGATION.
