Feds End Probe of NM Gov. Bill Richardson: No Charges

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Thu Aug 27, 2009 at 07:53:40 PM EST
Tags: Bill Richardson (all tags)

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Criminal charges will not be filed against New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson in the "pay to play" investigation that caused him to withdraw from consideration as President Obama's Commerce Secretary.

The Democratic governor and former high-ranking members of his administration won't be criminally charged in an investigation of how lucrative state bond work went to one of the governor's large political donors, according to two people familiar with the case. The decision not to seek indictments was made by Justice Department officials in Washington, they said, speaking on condition they not be identified because prosecutors had not disclosed results of the probe.

Richardson's spokesman Gilbert Gallegos has issued a statement: [More...]

Gallegos said Richardson was ''gratified that this year-long investigation has ended with the vindication of his administration'' and that ''patience was difficult while Gov. Richardson and his administration were being falsely accused and were the subject of rumors and speculation through the news media.''

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Feds End Probe of NM Gov. Bill Richardson: No Charges | 12 comments (12 topical)

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Okay. Now let's see a re-investigation (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by jeffinalabama on Thu Aug 27, 2009 at 08:24:08 PM EST

of Siegelman's case, with someone OTHER than Canary as prosecutor.

This smells funny. (none / 0) (#2)
by Susie from Philly on Thu Aug 27, 2009 at 09:00:46 PM EST

My experience with the feds is that they almost NEVER "clear" someone. Either they indict, or they leave the case open.

Where did they say (none / 0) (#6)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 12:00:12 AM EST

they'd "cleared" him? The article carefully says only that they've decided not to make indictments.


: No, but the Richardson statement (none / 0) (#13)
by Inspector Gadget on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 10:53:01 AM EST

Richardson was ''gratified that this year-long investigation has ended with the vindication of his administration''
is misleading enough to make it appear they were cleared.

I have just a pang of sympathy for Richardson. (none / 0) (#5)
by oculus on Thu Aug 27, 2009 at 11:46:54 PM EST

Yeah, me, too (5.00 / 6) (#7)
by gyrfalcon on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 12:01:02 AM EST

but then I belched and felt better.


: Has Carville released a statement? (5.00 / 3) (#8)
by oculus on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 12:05:18 AM EST

: The investigation (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Fabian on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 04:53:51 AM EST

kept Richardson out of the Obama administration. Count me satisfied and relieved that we dodged a potential scandal.

Really? (none / 0) (#10)
by jimakaPPJ on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 06:10:30 AM EST

That didn't stop the rest.

;-)

Ethic line (none / 0) (#11)
by mmc9431 on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 08:28:19 AM EST

Richardson was actually on my short list early in the primary season. But then he opened his mouth and kept sticking his foot in it..

Where is the line drawn on ethics? Didn't the Bush administration get a lot of money from the guy at Blackwater? And didn't he get some very fat contracts back?

: Nobody in New Mexico Made That Mistake (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by tokin librul on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 09:50:04 AM EST

Richardson has had one really spectacular success: the Railrunner inter-city rail line.

Surprise? (none / 0) (#14)
by diogenes on Fri Aug 28, 2009 at 09:02:30 PM EST

Did anyone really thing that the OBAMA DOJ would indict Richardson, whose support at a key point in the primary season was HUGE?