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Probe ends governor's bid for post in Cabinet
January 6, 2009, Tuesday
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New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has abandoned his bid to become the United States commerce secretary under pressure of a grand jury investigation about political favoritism - an investigation that threatened to embarrass President-elect Barack Obama.
Richardson said he would be cleared, and Obama stood by the governor as an "outstanding public servant." But both men said it had become clear that the investigation would not be finished in time for Richardson's confirmation hearings and could keep him from filling the post in a timely matter.
Richardson's withdrawal is the first disruption of Obama's Cabinet process and the second "pay-to-play" investigation that has touched Obama's transition to the presidency. The president-elect has remained above the fray in both the case of arrested Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and the New Mexico case.
As one of the most prominent Hispanics in the Democratic Party, Richardson served in Congress and as president Bill Clinton's ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary. As governor, he has kept up an international profile with a specialty in dealing with rogue nations. Obama also considered him for secretary of state.
A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico transportation contract worth nearly US$1.5 million. Richardson said the investigation could take weeks or months, but expressed confidence it would show he acted properly.
Aides to both men said Richardson made the decision to withdraw and he was not pushed out by Obama. But transition officials were said to have become increasingly nervous over the past couple of weeks that the investigation was a bigger problem than Richardson had indicated.
Obama said he accepted Richardson's withdrawal "with deep regret."
In a statement, he said: "It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time."
Richardson says he will remain as governor and told Obama: "Given the gravity of the economic situation the nation is facing, I could not in good conscience ask the president-elect and his administration to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done."
In the Illinois case, Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell the Senate seat Obama gave up to become president. Obama and two of his top aides have denied any knowledge of such a scheme.
Richardson said he would be cleared, and Obama stood by the governor as an "outstanding public servant." But both men said it had become clear that the investigation would not be finished in time for Richardson's confirmation hearings and could keep him from filling the post in a timely matter.
Richardson's withdrawal is the first disruption of Obama's Cabinet process and the second "pay-to-play" investigation that has touched Obama's transition to the presidency. The president-elect has remained above the fray in both the case of arrested Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and the New Mexico case.
As one of the most prominent Hispanics in the Democratic Party, Richardson served in Congress and as president Bill Clinton's ambassador to the United Nations and energy secretary. As governor, he has kept up an international profile with a specialty in dealing with rogue nations. Obama also considered him for secretary of state.
A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico transportation contract worth nearly US$1.5 million. Richardson said the investigation could take weeks or months, but expressed confidence it would show he acted properly.
Aides to both men said Richardson made the decision to withdraw and he was not pushed out by Obama. But transition officials were said to have become increasingly nervous over the past couple of weeks that the investigation was a bigger problem than Richardson had indicated.
Obama said he accepted Richardson's withdrawal "with deep regret."
In a statement, he said: "It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time."
Richardson says he will remain as governor and told Obama: "Given the gravity of the economic situation the nation is facing, I could not in good conscience ask the president-elect and his administration to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done."
In the Illinois case, Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell the Senate seat Obama gave up to become president. Obama and two of his top aides have denied any knowledge of such a scheme.
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