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Primary defeat won’t stop sexual harassment investigation into New Mexico lawmaker

(Morgan Lee | The Associated Press) New Mexico state Rep. Carl Trujillo, left, stands with Alan Feldman, a volunteer for the Democratic gubernatorial campaign of Michelle Lujan Grisham, as they greet voters outside a precinct in Santa Fe, N.M., Tuesday, June 5, 2018. The state has wide-open primary races for New Mexico governor and two congressional seats.

Santa Fe, N.M. • The defeat of New Mexico state Rep. Carl Trujillo in the Democratic primary election has not halted an investigation by the Legislature into allegations of sexual harassment against the Santa Fe-area lawmaker.

The Legislature’s lead attorney, Raul Burciaga, said Wednesday that an investigation continues against Trujillo by a panel of four lawmakers and outside counsel.

Trujillo vehemently denies accusations by animal welfare activist Laura Bonar that he inappropriately touched and propositioned her as the two worked together on legislation in 2014. He lost Tuesday’s Democratic primary election to Andrea Romero of Santa Fe in a race with no Republican contenders.

Bonar said Wednesday through her attorney Levi Monagle that she will pursue her complaint with the Legislature to its conclusion under an anti-harassment policy adopted earlier this year.