I truly hate to be a stickler here, but shall. As we all know, Governor Bill Richardson dropped his bid to become our next Commerce Secretary since he is being investigated by a grand jury. He is currently under investigation where a grand jury is hearing the case in which he has been charged in a ‘pay for play’ political scandal. Does that sound familiar?
Like Governor Blagojevich, Richardson stated he too would be cleared of any wrong doings and even Pres.-elect Barack Obama called Richardson an "outstanding public servant." I would like to know if our next president will ask Governor Richardson to resign his gubernatorial seat as he has done with Governor Blagojevich. Wouldn’t you? I think it only fair that Pres.-elect Barack Obama asks that Richardson to resign his seat as he has done with Blagojevich.
Let us say for argument sake that a candidate had to be named to a vacated senate seat in New Mexico. Would Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and senate Democrats refuse to seat whomever Richardson appointed? Wouldn’t that senate appointee have a taint like some are saying Burris has? As we all know, Reid stated he would refuse to accept Roland Burris who is Blagojevich’s pick to fill the vacated seat of Pres.-elect Obama.
Will the New Mexico state legislature form an impeachment committee as the Illinois legislative body has done? This will prove to be interesting to see if New Mexico will take the same steps. Will the New Mexico Attorney General Gary King make a case to bring to the New Mexico Supreme Court to wrest the gubernatorial powers away from governor Bill Richardson? I know that he is not in the same position to name anyone to a senate seat, but still he is a governor under a formal investigation.
As the facts now stand and reported by the AP, "A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico transportation contract worth nearly $1.5 million." This is an active investigation in the present where the U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald stated that a formal indictment of Blagojevich can take three months. So far no grand jury is currently hearing any case against the Illinois governor.
In my prior piece where I wrote that Blagojevich lost his security briefings from Homeland Security, one has to wonder if the same fate will happen to Richardson. If Richardson continues to be briefed, could Blagojevich make a case where he is being treated differently under the rule of law?
As Blagojevich stated in a press conference that he would "fight" to keep his gubernatorial seat it was mocked by so many within the media. It has been reported that Richardson stated, "I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful." Will that statement coming from Richardson be mocked by anyone?
Will a clarion-call come from a mob demanding that Richardson resign as is being done to Blagojevich or will they treat him differently? Only time will tell. I will be the first to blast Blagojevich if it is proven he broke the law and the same standards should be applied to Richardson.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
