CHC Chair Files Restraining Order Against Former Intern

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Congresswoman Michelle Luján Grisham (D-NM) filed a restraining order against a former intern, citing safety concerns. However, on Wednesday, another judge reversed the order saying the former intern is already required to stay away from Lujan Grisham because of the pending criminal case. 

In 2015, Riley Del Rey interned in Luján Grisham's DC office and claims that Luján Grisham fired her after she discovered she's transgender. The Congresswoman, who is the leading Democratic candidate for Governor of New Mexico, vehemently refutes these claims. Del Rey has been attending Luján Grisham's campaign events to protest, using air horns to speak and disrupting the Congresswoman, asking if she will address the discrimination accusations. "Having an air horn at an event is not illegal," Del Rey said. "Disrupting a candidate or voicing political dissidence is not illegal and it's not a danger to anything other than her reputation," Del Ray said. The former Hill intern was arrested earlier this month at the state’s Democratic Party pre-primary convention after police claimed she kicked one man and tried to kick another as police escorted her out. She was charged with disorderly conduct and assault. Former Congressman Mike Honda, whose granddaughter is transgender, has also disputed claims that he outed the intern to Luján Grisham, which Del Rey says led to her dismissal two years ago. The Congresswoman’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Nathan Schelble, said, “I can confirm that a District Court Judge has independently decided to issue a temporary restraining order after reviewing evidence of Ms. Del Rey’s recent escalating threatening behavior toward Rep. Lujan Grisham and those around her ... The Office takes the security of the Congresswoman and her staff very seriously in order to ensure they can continue to serve the people of New Mexico.” More here.