Republicans argue that their opponents’ New Mexico glory is fleeting because of an issue that has roiled state politics: a series of investigations into official corruption. Former state treasurer Michael Montoya and his successor as treasurer, Robert Vigil, both have been convicted on federal corruption charges. Manny Aragon, a former state senator, has been convicted on felony charges of conspiracy and mail fraud. Jerome Block Jr., a Democrat on the state public regulations commission, was indicted in April on eight felony counts, including election-code violations, tampering with evidence and embezzlement. And the potentially most explosive hint of political scandal has reached into the office of the Democrat who has dominated state politics since his election to the first of his two terms as governor: Bill Richardson , who cannot run for re-election in 2010 under the state’s term-limit law.
One of the most prominent Hispanics in American politics, Richardson served in the U.S. House from 1983 to 1997, then held two positions in the Clinton administration: U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and Energy secretary.
Elected governor in 2002, he waged a short-lived presidential campaign in 2008, then endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination.
In December 2008, Obama — by then president-elect — announced that the New Mexico governor was his choice as Commerce secretary. But Richardson withdrew from consideration a month later, following reports of a federal investigation into state contracts awarded to CDR Financial Products Inc. The California firm and its president had contributed to two political action committees created by Richardson, and a federal grand jury was looking into whether Richardson’s office had a role in awarding the contracts.
Richardson has denied any wrongdoing, and in the six months since he asked that his nomination be withdrawn, federal authorities have had no public comment on the situation — so it is not clear whether he or anyone in his administration will be charged.
The convergence continues.
Don't forget the birthplace of "Black Box Bond scams" tiny Gulf Breeze Florida.
ReplyDeleteWhere they still operate even though they now are on their 3rd name change to "C.D.E." because CTA had too bad of a public image.
They are even trying to avoid public record laws in Gulf Breeze, Florida, laws that were designed to expose these scams.