http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D95GHJPO0&show_article=1

Richardson withdraws bid to be commerce secretary  
 
Jan 4 04:15 PM US/Eastern
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer 

WASHINGTON (AP) - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Sunday announced 
that he was withdrawing his nomination to be President-elect Barack 
Obama's commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation into how some 
of his political donors won a lucrative state contract. 

Richardson's withdrawal was 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 Gov. Rod 
Blagojevich and the New Mexico case. 

A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that 
contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico 
transportation contract worth more than $1 million. 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. 

"I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced 
an untenable delay in the confirmation process," Richardson said. "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." 

Richardson said he will remain as governor and told Obama, "I am eager 
to serve in the future in any way he deems useful." 

The announcement came ahead of Obama's Monday meetings with 
congressional leaders on a massive economic recovery bill he wants 
lawmakers to pass quickly. 

Obama said he has accepted Richardson's withdrawal, first reported by 
NBC News, "with deep regret." 

"Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have 
brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great 
insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and 
state office," Obama 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. Although we must move quickly to fill the void left 
by Governor Richardson's decision, I look forward to his future service 
to our country and in my administration." 

A person familiar with the proceedings has told The Associated Press 
that the grand jury is looking into possible "pay-to-play" dealings 
between CDR Financial Products and someone in a position to push the 
contract through with the state of New Mexico. 

State documents show CDR was paid a total of $1.48 million in 2004 and 
2005 for its work on a transportation program. 

Richardson ran against Obama in the Democratic presidential primary, but 
withdrew after a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire 
primary. 

He is one of the most prominent Hispanics in the Democratic Party, 
having served in Congress and as President 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 rouge nations. 
Obama also considered him to be secretary of state. 

CDR and its CEO, David Rubin, have contributed at least $110,000 to 
three political committees formed by Richardson, according to an AP 
review of campaign finance records. 

The largest donation, $75,000, was made by CDR in June 2004—a couple of 
months after the transportation financing arrangement won state 
approval—to a political committee that Richardson established before the 
Democratic National Convention that year. 

In the Illinois case, Blagojevich is accused of trying to sell the 
Senate seat that Obama gave up to become president. Obama and two of his 
top aides have been interviewed by the U.S. attorney's office pursuing 
the case but have denied any knowledge of such a scheme and have not 
been accused by prosecutors of any wrongdoing

CMPQwk 1.42-21 9999 
Democrats --  The party of economic destruction ....

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