Posted on 01/08/2009 7:47:25 AM PST by CedarDave
One of Gov. Bill Richardson's longtime friends and political advisers worked as a consultant for the California firm at the center a federal pay-to-play investigation that derailed the Democratic governor's appointment as commerce secretary.
Federal investigators are looking at whether political contributions influenced the selection of the firm, CDR Financial Products, for lucrative bond deals in New Mexico and whether Richardson's former chief of staff, David Contarino, played a role in CDR being hired.
A Denver-based firm operated by Mike Stratton, Richardson's longtime friend, was a consultant for CDR, including in 2004 when the company worked on bond deals with the New Mexico Finance Authority that are part of the grand jury investigation. The firm earned almost $1.5 million in fees for those transactions.
CDR and its chief executive, David Rubin, contributed $110,000 to Richardson political committees in 2003-2005.
Richardson said Wednesday there was nothing improper in how the state awarded the work to CDR.
~~snip~~
The bonds deals involving CDR were for a Richardson administration highway construction program enacted in 2003, called GRIP — Governor Richardson's Investment Partnership.
Stratton's work for CDR is significant because as a close friend and adviser to Richardson he was in position to know about the governor's fundraising machinery, including the committees that received contributions from CDR. Stratton also was familiar with the key players in the Richardson administration.
(Excerpt) Read more at santafenewmexican.com ...
Richardson is as dirty as the Rio Grande is muddy.
NM list PING!
As greyfoxx39 said yesterday, it just keeps getting better ...
(FReepmail greyfoxx39 to be added or removed from the NM list)
The interesting thing is that this information has been out there for a long time. Why is it just NOW being reported? Is this payback from Hillary for Richardson stabbing her in the back?
Same as with the article a couple of weeks ago about the number of political appointment jobs in the state having risen so drastically under Richardson. It’s not like that information isn’t available publically.
There were 2 front page articles in the ABQ Journal yesterday that were negative to Richardson. Hmmmmmmmm
I absolutely assume Team Hillary is behind this. Remember when Carville called Richardson a “Judas” for endorsing Obama? This is payback.
ABQ TV station KRQE did a two-part expose about Richardson's crony appointments several years ago and I put up a couple of threads on it. Unfortunately, the links are broken now. But you are right -- this stuff has been known for a long time.
The Journal goes hot and cold for Richardson, but has criticized him for his blatant cutting of necessary legislatively-approved projects (such as school roof repair) in retaliation for some state legislator opposing one of his pet projects. At this point they may consider him damaged goods and fair game for investigation.
If they are behind it, good for them, Richardson is a pig who thinks that people were born to support him and his every whim.
I’m sort of thinking the know or at least suspect that Richardson is going to get indicted and the Journal wants to get in front of it.
1 down. How many more of Obama’s Hopey Changey appointments to go?
Obama's going to find out, to his chagrin, that Team Hillary has a worldwide network of supporters that would make the Mafia proud.
The careerists at Foggy Bottom had better "check their six". Learned that term at Hahn AB in Germany over 30 years ago. That's a pilot's way of saying "watch your back".
Those who pledge fealty will get plum diplomatic assignments. Those who don't will be sent to outposts such as Bumphuq, Egypt.
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