From MSNBC.comNew Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.
“Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact,” he said Sunday in a report by NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell. “But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process.”
A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson’s political activities won a New Mexico state contract worth more than $1 billion. Richardson said in a statement issued by the Obama transition office that the investigation could take weeks or months but expressed confidence it will show he and his administration acted properly. Read More Here.
Haha, I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for why that company that contributed to him won a BILLION dollar contract.
It was actually a $1.4 MILLION contract.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/us/politics/05richardson.html?hp
Steve
Wow, that is a big difference… Dan did you get a different number from a different source? Still, the fact that he’s withdrawn his nomination means there’s more then meets the eye to this.
If you listen carefully, you can almost hear James Carville’s cackle drifting from a Louisiana bayou to all of PUMA Land,
” Gee, that’s a damm shame.”