Posted on 03/30/2007 11:48:18 AM PDT by John Jorsett
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic presidential hopeful, said Friday he is troubled and saddened by the latest public corruption scandal to hit New Mexico.
Named in a federal indictment Thursday was Manny Aragon, a former state senator who once was among New Mexico's most powerful politicians. Aragon and three others are accused of conspiring, laundering money and committing mail fraud in a scheme that authorities say cost state taxpayers $4.2 million.
"Regardless of the guilt or innocence, these indictments are very troubling," Richardson said Friday. "I'm saddened too because Sen. Aragon has had a distinguished political career. My hope is that justice is swift and free of politics."
The case involves an alleged scheme to defraud the state in the construction of a new county courthouse in downtown Albuquerque. Along with Aragon, former court administrator Toby Martinez, his wife Sandra Mata Martinez, and Raul Parra, a partner in Albuquerque engineering firm P2RS, were named in the indictment.
Aragon served as the top Senate leader for 13 years. He resigned in mid-2004 to become president at New Mexico Highlands University, but he left two years later when the school bought out his contract.
The indictments represent the second large federal corruption prosecution in two years. Former state treasurer Robert Vigil was arrested in 2005 and convicted last year of attempted extortion. His predecessor, Michael Montoya, pleaded guilty to extortion in a kickback scheme involving state investments.
The latest corruption probe has became part of the controversy over former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, one of eight U.S. attorneys fired late last year.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
I'd been surprised if there wasn't a scandal.
Saddened??? Why??? Because he didn't a piece of the action??
Deeply troubled?
I would appreciate some clarification on how this ties into the U.S. attorney controversy. Anybody know? Aren't all the accused in this case Democrats?
Hmmmm? I wonder exactly which "part" of the controversy.
The article doesn't say but if Richardson is saddened then the folks in this news article are Democrats.
MANNY M. ARAGON DEMOCRAT 4,573 55%
BILL M. PAIZ REPUBLICAN 3,682 45%
I'm saddened that Bill Richardson is saddened.
/heavy sarc
Notice no mention that Aragon is a Democrat. If it had been Paiz, the word Republican would be splashed all over the place.
I found this that explains it. The AP story posted at the top of this chain is lame.
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/mar/06/iglesias-speaks-senate-committee/
How the hell do you think he got so powerful? Politicians don't attain power except by corruption.
Saddened that it's been brought to light.
Well, you can bet your paycheck that if a democrat is saddened by a scandal, those involved in the scandal are rats. On the other side, the saddened rat is filled with joy that he hasn't been caught.
You know... you're right.
New Mexico politics takes its lead from Old Mexico politics. Sadly, Texas politics along the border suffers from the same contamination and subsequent degradation. Miami isn't much better. California is on its way. Former Spanish colonies always have a problem with rule of law, property rights and free speech, the entire Bill of Rights thing. Parts of the United States are now Third World countries.
I'm wondering why Louisiana isn't on that list.... =^)
Yeah, maybe I should have also mentioned countries that have kept the Napoleonic Code.
Aragon, son of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, son of Arrowshirt, son of Arrowroot?
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