Nella Domenici Caught Lying About Her Role at Bridgewater and Ties to Chinese Fentanyl Distributor

Oct

2024

PRESS RELEASE

Nella Domenici Caught Lying About Her Role at Bridgewater and Ties to Chinese Fentanyl Distributor

Heinrich campaign highlights Domenici’s hypocrisy on fentanyl crisis

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — In last night’s debate, Senator Martin Heinrich and his multimillionaire former hedge fund executive opponent, Nella Domenici, clashed on the devastating fentanyl crisis impacting New Mexico. Heinrich, who has spearheaded legislative efforts to curb fentanyl trafficking and protect New Mexico communities, held Domenici accountable for her record as Chief Financial Officer of Bridgewater Associates, where the firm invested millions in Sinopharm, China’s largest fentanyl distributor.

Heinrich stated, “When [Domenici] was at Bridgewater, the largest hedge fund in the world, they invested $52 million dollars in the largest fentanyl distributor in China. We are awash in illegal fentanyl. We are awash in legal fentanyl. The prices are too low. And the real solution is to have solutions.”

In response, Domenici blatantly lied about her role, claiming she had “absolutely nothing to do with any stock and investment decision[s].”

This claim directly contradicts her own past statements that she was one of six people responsible for “all aspects” of Bridgewater’s business operations. And it is a matter of record that Bridgewater held millions of dollars in investments in Sinopharm while she was CFO. Sinopharm was also the second largest shareholder in China’s largest fentanyl manufacturer, which was responsible for 90% of Chinese fentanyl manufacturing.

“While Senator Heinrich has been tackling the fentanyl crisis head-on, Domenici was putting profits ahead of people,” said Bradley Elkins. “And when asked to answer for her role in profiting off the state’s deadly fentanyl crisis, Domenici lied to the people of New Mexico.”

Senator Heinrich’s legislative record on fentanyl contrasts sharply with Domenici’s. Heinrich played a pivotal role in passing the monumental FEND Off Fentanyl Act, authored legislation that creates a national fentanyl tracking system, secured more than $1 million to help local law enforcement detect illegal fentanyl, and recently introduced legislation to interdict fentanyl in federal prisons.