Scandalous

Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) has withdrawn his nomination to Secretary of Commerce amid yet another developing "pay to play" scandal.

A federal grand jury in New Mexico is investigating accusations that Mr. Richardson’s administration gave substantial contracts to a California financier who contributed heavily to the governor’s political action committees, The New York Times reported last month, citing a person familiar with the grand jury proceedings.

Questions about the contracts almost certainly would have been raised in Mr. Richardson’s Senate confirmation hearings.

Since August, federal investigators have been examining how the California company, CDR Financial Products Inc., won two consulting contracts in 2004 worth about $1.4 million to advise the state on a large bond issue.