Former NM Governor Tied to NEW Pay-to-Play Allegations

The whiff of scandal cost Democrat Bill Richardson a job in President Barack Obama's administration, but the former New Mexico governor's reputation and political legacy are threatened again because of federal and state investigations into separate pay-to-play schemes, including allegations that campaign contributions influenced his appointment of judges.

Richardson has denied any wrongdoing, just as he did two years ago when he withdrew his nomination as commerce secretary because of a federal grand jury investigation into the awarding of a state contract to a political donor.

That investigation ended with no charges against Richardson or his top aides, but the cloud from pay-to-play allegations never went away during the rest of Richardson's term. If anything, the cloud darkened in New Mexico where there's been a steady stream of news reports during the past two years about another federal investigation -- this one focusing on state investments -- and the possibility of corruption in the Richardson administration.

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