Bill Richardson sees no charges in graft probe
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson attends a news conference in Havana August 28, 2009.
Credit: Reuters/Enrique De La Osa
SANTA FE, New Mexico (Reuters) - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's office said on Thursday it did not expect federal prosecutors to bring charges in a legal probe that led him to withdraw his nomination for a post in President Barack Obama's Cabinet.
"While the U.S. Attorney's office has not notified Governor Richardson about the completion of its investigation, it appears that no action will be taken as a result of the year-long inquiry," Gilbert Gallegos, Richardson's deputy chief of staff, said in a statement
Richardson, a former Democratic presidential candidate, denied any wrongdoing in connection with the probe of a California-based financial company that had done business with the New Mexico state government.
In January, Richardson withdrew his nomination for commerce secretary in the face of the legal inquiry.
Richardson is on a trade mission to Cuba. The statement by his office followed news reports on Thursday quoting an unidentified source that the U.S. Justice Department had decided not to press charges in the case.
The U.S. attorney's office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, declined to comment on the case.
A federal grand jury in Albuquerque investigated whether CDR Financial Products improperly won more than $1.4 million in work for the state of New Mexico shortly after making contributions to political action committees linked to Richardson.
(Reporting by Zelie Pollon in Santa Fe; Writing by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Peter Cooney)
