Albuquerque, N.M. NBC affiliate KOB is denying accusations a former employee helped New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in a debate during the 2018 campaign.
In a series of tweets from attorney Thomas Grover and in a press release from current republican candidate for governor Mark Ronchetti, the two allege former KOB photographer Joseph Lynch gave the state’s Democratic governor the questions used in the debate when she was first elected governor back in 2018. Grover said the text messages were sent to him anonymously.
Ronchetti left his job as chief meteorologist at Albuquerque station KRQE in 2021 to run for governor.
Saying the station takes allegations like this “very seriously,” gm Michelle Donaldson denied the accusations. KOB started its Thursday evening newscast with the story and called Lynch for comment, but hasn’t heard back. Lynch left the station two years ago.
“For over 70 years, KOB-TV has adhered to the highest standards of journalism integrity and would never engage in behavior that would undermine our standards, the respect of our viewers, or the public trust,” said Donaldson. “We actively invite the Ronchetti campaign and the alleged anonymous source to contact KOB-TV and share all relevant evidence so we can fully investigate these allegations and maintain our commitment to transparency and the high standards we have set for the people we serve in New Mexico.”
In a press release, Ronchetti attached screenshots of the alleged text messages Lynch sent the Lujan Grisham campaign two weeks before the 2018 debate detailing how it would unfold and saying he wanted to help Lujan Grisham “in any way I can.”
“These bombshell text messages show that Michelle Lujan Grisham will brazenly cheat and deceive New Mexicans in order to attain and hold onto her power,” said Ronchetti, who added “This governor is corrupt to the core and must be held accountable.”
Below is the complete statement from Donaldson:
The Ronchetti campaign’s allegations that KOB-TV colluded with the 2018 Michelle Lujan Grisham campaign are patently false.
For over 70 years, KOB-TV has adhered to the highest standards of journalism integrity and would never engage in behavior that would undermine our standards, the respect of our viewers, or the public trust.
We take accusations like this, even unfounded ones, very seriously and if we find that a staff member acted on their own and without our knowledge they will no longer be part of the team at KOB-TV.
We actively invite the Ronchetti campaign and the alleged anonymous source to contact KOB-TV and share all relevant evidence so we can fully investigate these allegations and maintain our commitment to transparency and the high standards we have set for the people we serve in New Mexico.
-Michelle Donaldson
Vice President & General Manager, KOB-TV