Legal Commentary

Fingerpointing and A Second Problem for Richardson

By Jeralyn

Via Politico, Obama aides are now saying Richardson was pressed for information about the federal grand jury investigation into a possible "pay for play" situation and was not forthcoming. Others are putting the blame on Obama's transition team, saying the vetting of Richardson was inadequate.

There's also a second area of inquiry Republicans were likely to focus on during Richardson's confirmation hearings.

In addition, Senate Republicans told Politico ahead of Richardson's confirmation hearing that they were looking into questions about Richardson’s connection to a San Diego-based software company that came under investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

More...

From February 2001 to June 2002, Richardson served on the board of directors of Peregrine Systems Inc. Richardson departed the firm as a federal investigation of the company’s practices was getting under way. Investigators were focusing on the question of whether the firm’s top leadership intentionally inflated revenue numbers in an attempt to mislead company shareholders.

....Peregrine made headlines in December when Stephen Parker Gardner, the organization’s former chief executive, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for taking part in an effort to defraud investors over a span that stretched from 1999 to 2002.

With Richardson's departure, Politico says Latino groups are pressing for a Hispanic replacement. A likely choice to me seems to be former Clinton Transportation and Energy Secretary Federico Pena -- but he told Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter he wasn't interested in Salazar's senate seat. Would he feel differently about a cabinet position? Seems like Pena would have to give up a pretty lucrative career in the private sector. And, he has said he wants to help Obama from Denver.

It is my desire to remain in Colorado and to continue to advise and assist President-Elect Obama in any way I can from my home in Denver.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 05, 2009 (boomark / email).