Legal Commentary

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

By Jeralyn

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.''

Full post as published by TalkLeft on August 27, 2009 (boomark / email).