SANTA FE, N.M. (Legal Newsline) - New Mexico Attorney General Gary King says a $15,000 campaign contribution from a New York law firm doesn't violate a new state law.

In a campaign finance report filed with the Secretary of State's Office this week, the attorney general reported receiving the donation on Sept. 22 from Bernstein Litowitz Berger and Grossmann LLP.

King told the New Mexican on Wednesday that he has a friend that is an attorney at the law firm.

However, a 10-month-old campaign finance law bans contributions of $5,000 or more per election cycle. King was one of the law's biggest supporters.

King now contends the new law applies only to candidates, not public officials elected to office.

The attorney general noted he was no longer a candidate when the check arrived and that the money will go toward paying off debt incurred by his campaign last year, before the limit was implemented.

According to the newspaper, Secretary of State Dianna Duran is looking into the issue and planned to send a letter to King and his campaign on Thursday, asking for a full explanation.

From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.