New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has withdrawn his name from consideration for appointment to be Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration. Citing an ongoing grand jury investigation in his home state, the Governor said that while he “acted properly”, he recognized that the investigation would delay his confirmation process.
Richardson’s departure also means the incoming administration has lost its highest ranking Latino appointee. Already, national Hispanic groups are asking for a prominent replacement.
The investigations stems from questions surrounding thousands of dollars of political donations made to Richardson and political committees he is associated with by the founder of a financial products company that was awarded over $1 million in state contracts.
The Governor maintains that neither he nor his administration did anything improper and that he was “forthcoming” in providing information to the Obama transition team. Richardson in his second term will remain Governor of New Mexico through 2010.
Representative Hilda Solis and Senator Ken Salazar are the remaining Latino nominees to Cabinet level positions for Secretary of Labor and Interior respectively.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28493919/
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17040.html
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