As writers and researchers, we at NMGOP Uncovered find ourselves chasing many rabbits and following their trails. If there is one thing we've learned, it is to follow the money.
In politics, when looking at money to tell a story, it is best to start at the top. In this case, we'll begin with Representative Yvette Herrell (R-NM). Rep. Herrell was elected to congress in 2020 among a wave of other MAGA candidates. In her first act as a Representative, Herrell stood in the early hours following the January 6th Insurrection to object to Pennsylvania's electoral votes. She is currently running for reelection; however, her seat is no longer safe after redistricting. While the remainder of this article will discuss many individuals, donors, and money in her orbit, it is in no way an allegation of wrongdoing by the Representative or anyone mentioned in this piece.
New Mexico Freedom Fund PAC
According to Federal Election Commission, Rep. Yvette Harrell founded the leadership PAC, New Mexico Freedom Fund. It was first registered on May 27, 2021. While Herrell is listed as the head of the PAC, former Republican Party of Otero County Chairperson Rocky Galassini is listed as the PAC treasurer and custodian of records.
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The agent registering the PAC is Karl Melton, owner of Conservative Compliance, LLC
Conservative Compliance, LLC
According to FEC filings, Conservative Compliance, LLC has been paid approximately $10,000. Conservative Compliance since its first filing in May of 2021. The company is owned and registered by Karl Melton of Alamogordo, NM, by way of Virginia. Registered first in January of 2020 in Virginia, Karl then moved to New Mexico and registered the company in June 2021.
It should be noted that Karl Melton is currently in a long-term relationship with provocateur, data miner, and New Mexico Republican candidate for House District 51, John Block. He is also the treasurer for Block's house campaign and one of his largest donors.
(Left: John Block, Right: Karl Melton)
Oh, What a Tangled Web...
Karl Melton is also a city commissioner for Alamogordo. Karl was nominated by Stephen Burnett to his position in February 2022 to replace now-Mayor Susan Payne. By a vote of 5-1, Karl became Payne's replacement. 
(Left: Stephen Burnett, Yevette Herrell)
In the photo above from a family event, it is clear that Burnett and Herrell know each other; Burnette is married to Monica Coble, Herrell's niece and former treasurer of the Republican Party of Otero County. Did Burnett know Melton was a vendor used by Herrell's leadership PAC before or after he nominated Melton to the city council? While the nomination may or may not be illegal, it may be morally dubious if he did. To be clear, Melton did disclose that he was the owner of Conservative Compliance, LLC. He did not, however, provide a list of his clients. 
"Rocky" Family Relationship(s)
Rocky Galassini
In June 2015, the New Mexico Political Report posted an article about Rocky Galassini, then Chairperson of the Republican Party of Otero County. The article retells how Galassini was unceremoniously ousted as the Chair of the Republican Party of Otero County. 
Not to fade into the shadows, Rocky first recruited insurrectionist Couy Griffin, then became the treasurer for removed county commissioner Couy Griffin's campaign.
Like her parents, Anissa is no stranger to controversy. In the Satna Fe New Mexican article, "Martinez accused of investigating people who opposed campaign," Steve Terrell reported that then-former governor Susanna Martinez's campaign aide Anissa (Galassine) Ford Tinnin claimed the governor's office used government databases to investigate political critics and opponents. According to Ford Tinnin, she was asked to photograph a car's license plate with an anti-Martinez number sticker and forward it to another who would use the search the state databases to determine the owner of the vehicle.
The New Mexico Political Report reported in October 2019 that Galassini was also the treasurer of Griffin's Cowboys For Trump group. Cowboys for Trump was sued by New Mexico by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver for failing to register as a political action committee. An arbitrator ruled that Cowboys for Trump must register as a PAC in July 2020.
Griffin, founder of Cowboys for Trump, appealed the ruling to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. In February 2022, Chief Judge Tymkovich and Judges Phillips and McHugh ruled against Griffin, stating that Cowboys For Trump was a PAC.
The "Retired" Judge Galassini
Gene C. Galassini
(Photo Credit: Alamogordo Daily News)
Griffin should have known better; campaign and Cowboy for Trump treasurer Rocky Galassini is married to "retired" Otero County magistrate judge Gene C. Galassini. In the Alamogordo Daily News (2/29/2016), Galassini stated he was retiring "because of health reasons but more importantly to spend time with his three grandchildren. He and his wife, Rocky, also just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary" (Barbati, 2016).
The decision for Galassini to retire seemingly wasn't an unprompted decision. In a three-page letter dated August 6, 2015, the State of New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission alleged Judge Galassini had misbehaved in no less than five cases in his court. On February 29, 2016, Galassini submitted his letter of resignation. The New Mexico Supreme Court accepted Galassini's resignation the same day. Further, the court accepted a stipulation in light of their [Gene Galassini] permanent resignation that forbids Galassini from running for or holding any judicial position or holding any such power. The disgraced judge is also barred from officiating weddings.
The Judge Finds a Soft Landing
It seems retiring amid a cloud of controversy wasn't enough to keep Rep. Yvette Harrell away from Galassini. Instead, she created a position and hired him as a "Law Enforcement Liaison." 
Another PAC; Yvette4Congress
A little over a month before election day, Rep.Harrell registered another PAC, Yvette4Congress. Interestingly, despite being the treasurer of Harrell's Leadership PAC (New Mexico Freedom Fund), Rocky Galassini was also hired to be the treasurer of the new PAC.
It should be noted Philip Pearce is the brother of The Republican Party of New Mexico's current state chair Steve Pearce.
The Next Generation of Galassines; Anissa (Galassini) Ford Tinnin
(Left to right: Anissa (Galassini) Ford Tinnin, Tom Tinnin, Rocky Galassini, Gene Galassini, and Rep. Yvette Harrell attended President Trump's inauguration gala. 2016)
Born to Gene and Rocky Galassine, Anissa (Galassini) Ford Tinnin quickly rose to prominence in the Republican Party of New Mexico. As a member of the New Mexico Young Republicans, Anissa made short work of making a name for herself. Eventually, Anissa was named as the Executive Director of the Republican Party of New Mexico under the leadership of Steve Pearce. 
Anissa and the Stolen Emails
This claim came on the heels of an FBI investigation and a raid of her home. According to the search warrant affidavit, Ford Tinnin, then personal assistant to Governor Martinez, was unceremoniously dismissed along with Jamie Estrada. Estrada had been Martinez's campaign manager. Around July 2009, the domain www.susanna2010.com was created by a Martinez supporter, then donated to the campaign. In addition to the website, email addresses were created for campaign staff using the domain name (e.g., susanna@susanna2010.com).
As the campaign manager for Susanna Martinez's 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Estrada maintained the website and the username and password to the domain. This access also allowed Estrada to view emails sent and received by anyone on the server. At some point during that campaign, Martinez caught Estrada reading her emails through the domain, causing him to be fired from the campaign. Later, emails sent and received on the domain were published in local newspapers without the sender or recipient's knowledge or consent after the domain registration had allegedly expired.
According to the affidavit, Governor Martinez emailed Estrada requesting all usernames and passwords associated with the account. Estrada refused, and eventually, the domain expired in July 2011. However, in June of 2012, local media outlets received and published an email from then-NM Secretary of Education Hannah Skandera that was associated with the susanna2010.com domain.
In an unrelated court matter in 2012, an email was sent from Governor Martinez's Deputy Chief of Staff, Ryan Cangiolosi, using the susanna2010.com domain over a year after it allegedly expired. In layman's terms, this means that the domain was renewed, and someone had access to emails intended for Governor Martinez and was in possession of at least one email. During their investigation, FBI agents learned that Jason Loera, a Democratic consultant, sent the email from Cangiolosi's susanna2010.com campaign account.
FBI documents show that Estrada secretly renewed the susanna2010.com domain and had been using it to intercept emails intended for Governor Martinez, members of her cabinet, advisors, and campaign staff.
The FBI raid on Estrada's home led investigators to find texts and emails between Estrada, Loera, and Anissa Ford Tinnin. FBI agents claimed that the three knew each other, and their communications demonstrated that their actions were coordinated.
Ultimately, Estrada pled guilty to multiple hacking and digital spying charges. Jason Loera wasn't charged in the hacking scandal; however, he was charged with and convicted of possession of child pornography and received a 97-month sentence.
All charges were dropped against Anissa (Galassini) Ford Tinnin. A sentencing memo filed September 26, 2014, for Estrada contains messages between Estrada and a person believed to be Ford Tinnin. The name is redacted, indicating that Anissa (Galassini) Ford Tinnin most likely made a deal for immunity with authorities.
Anissa (Galassini) Ford Tinnin and the Fake Elector Scandal
Following the defeat of President Trump in the 2020 election, Anissa (Galassini) Ford Tinnin was once again recruited to help the Republican Party of New Mexico.In his now infamous emails, attorney and law professor John C. Eastman concocted a plan whereby Vice President Pence would refuse to accept the electoral votes of several states; Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New Mexico. Each state would select an "alternative [fake] slate of electors" to cast each state's electoral votes for President Trump. Eastman admitted he knew this was illegal; however, that didn't stop Trump or the fake New Mexico electors.
Who did the Republican Party of New Mexico chair, Steve Pearce, choose to be a fake elector? Anissa (Galassini) Ford Tinnin.
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas has turned the case over to the United States Attorney's Office prosecutors in addition to launching his own investigation for state crimes. University of New Mexico Law professor Joshua Kastenberg told SourceNM that if the fake electors are indicted, most likely it would be for "signing or offering to sign a certificate of registration when not a qualified elector," a fourth-degree felony in New Mexico. 
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