Ex-campaign manager leaks N.M. governor’s emails to her opponents

A former campaign manager for New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez stands accused of hacking her campaign’s email system after he was fired. Jamie Estrada allegedly pocketed messages sent by the governor, her staff and supporters, who still used the system after Martinez took office.

Estrada briefly served as campaign manager in 2009 but was axed by Martinez when she started her bid for governor.

Estrada said in a statement: "Individuals in whom the public has placed its trust have come after me in an attempt to divert attention from their own improper actions," Estrada said, pointing to allegations by the governor's critics of possible influence peddling in a state decision on a lease for a horse racing track and casino in Albuquerque.

Jay McCleskey, an adviser to the governor, said Estrada was fired "for numerous reasons, including improperly accessing Susana Martinez's personal emails in 2009."

The governor's office called for an investigation last year when a union-funded political action committee released several emails that showed the governor and aides “used private email addresses to discuss government business.” The governor then put the kibosh on that practice.

Prosecutors argue Estrada used his previous password and username information to change the computer account for the governor's 2010 campaign organization after Martinez took office in 2011. The result: When Martinez and aides exchanged messages through the campaign email system, the missives were directed to a computer account controlled by Estrada.

Email was leaked to Martinez critics such as the union-funded group, which publicly released some of the correspondence and called for authorities to investigate the Martinez administration's handling of government business deals.