State Sen. Linda Lopez announced today that she’ll oppose the nomination of former U.S. Senator Harrison Schmitt for the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department because Schmitt refuses to submit to a background check.

Beleaguered cabinet secretary nominee Harrison Schmitt is refusing to submit to a background check, as is required by the Senate Rules Committee.

Gov. Susana Martinez, asked about the refusal by reporters a few minutes ago, said she’d just found out about the refusal a couple of minutes before. She said her transition team had done a thorough investigation, but wanted to learn more before she commented.

Schmitt, a former astronaut and U.S. Senator, is Martinez’s choice for secretary of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources. He has been criticized by environmentalists for his view that global warming isn’t caused by humans — as well as comments he made in 2009 on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ radio show that the environmental movement is full of communists.

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Maybe he won’t be confirmed. That would be nice.

UPDATE: Schmitt withdraws.

“Senator Schmitt is a former NASA astronaut who underwent a complete background check by the Department of Public Safety as part of his nomination process.

“Senator Schmitt was willing to allow a private investigator access to his personal information, but he was not willing to waive that investigator’s liability for any improper actions or use of that information. While one can understand Senator Schmitt’s concerns, complying with the Legislature’s request is necessary to restore public confidence in state government. That’s why I am requiring all of my cabinet secretary designees to comply with that request and this has led to Senator Schmitt withdrawing his nomination.

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