How to not prosecute Bill Richardson

posted at 12:30 pm on June 25, 2011 by Jazz Shaw

It’s one of those stories in American politics which never seems to go away. We reported back in May that new allegations of corruption continue to be unearthed regarding former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. This has been going on for years now, but mysteriously nothing ever seems to come of it. Critics have been pushing the blame for the situation over to Gary King, the Attorney General of the state and the person who would have to initiate any such action. Well, it seems that Gary is tired of being kicked around and summoned the media to set the record straight.

ALBUQUERQUE – State Attorney General Gary King, in a wide-ranging, 90-minute defense of himself, said today that his detractors may be most upset because he has not tried to prosecute former governor Bill Richardson.

King said many of his critics want to know why he has not indicted Richardson, a fellow Democrat, whose eight years as governor were marked by robust times and investment scandals.

King said he bases every decision on facts that can be proven, not popularity or political connections. This holds true with a powerful man such as Richardson and everybody else, King said.

To those who continue to insist that Richardson must have done something illegal, King said: “Bring me the evidence.”

That’s an interesting defense to mount to say the least. One might be tempted to think that a grand jury indictment stemming from a judge who claims to have paid thousands of dollars to buy an appointment to the bench might be considered “evidence.” (Or at least reasonable grounds to begin an investigation.) And that was only one in a rather lengthy series of charges which seem to amount to a lot more than the rumors and “unsubstantiated charges” which King refers to during his presser.

But, since we’re all just going to toss around “unsubstantiated charges” anyway, that brings up a possible exit question for the readers. I wonder where, when and how Mr. King got his job. (Oh, come on. We can all play this game.)

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But, since we’re all just going to toss around “unsubstantiated charges” anyway, that brings up a possible exit question for the readers. I wonder where, when and how Mr. King got his job. (Oh, come on. We can all play this game.)

Former governor Bill Richardson? Just a guess.

IowaWoman on June 25, 2011 at 12:38 PM

He’s a Democrat so, naturally, Teflon Ted (Krnnedy( rules apply. Yawn.

MaiDee on June 25, 2011 at 12:38 PM

Some people are More Equal Than Others.

Del Dolemonte on June 25, 2011 at 12:39 PM

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!

cartooner on June 25, 2011 at 12:39 PM

Make all the records availble.

Why did Richarson lock them up?

Why did the current governor go along with it?

Locals of NM, please explain the details.

Schadenfreude on June 25, 2011 at 12:41 PM

Jazz, please put up a picture of Richardson. People should know the charlan. He might run for president some day and s/b thoroughly vetted.

He is one of the ones that brung Obama, the Judas.

Schadenfreude on June 25, 2011 at 12:43 PM

charlan=charlatan

Schadenfreude on June 25, 2011 at 12:43 PM

Thank you, Jazz. Keep this story going. This might be just the surface of a big corruption scheme.

Schadenfreude on June 25, 2011 at 12:53 PM

When a dem does it, it’s not bribery bribery.
— W. Goldberg

TXUS on June 25, 2011 at 12:59 PM

King said many of his critics want to know why he has not indicted Richardson, a fellow Democrat,

End of story.

rrpjr on June 25, 2011 at 1:03 PM

Dems won’t go after Dems. Because it’s always for the greater good. No matter how corrupt and illegal.

capejasmine on June 25, 2011 at 1:04 PM

Because the end always justify the means.

Freelancer on June 25, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Don’t bite the hand that feeds appointed you!

cartooner on June 25, 2011 at 12:39 PM

FIFY

AZfederalist on June 25, 2011 at 1:13 PM

OT – The USSR in the making.

Schadenfreude on June 25, 2011 at 1:15 PM

One of Richardson’s political cronies was arrested a couple of days ago for running a large, multi-state prostitution ring.

New Mexico has had a history of corrupt governance for longer than The United States of America has existed. But prior to Richardson, it was mostly petty, local, corruption. Carpetbagger Richardson brought it to a whole new level, raising corruption levels to the level that is normal in his beloved OLD Mexico.

Oh, and his pet project, his commuter train is going broke despite an 86% taxpayer funding.
But the moderates love him as much as the lefties do;
Something I have never understood, knowing the guy for a slime, from the instant that I first met him 25 years ago.

LegendHasIt on June 25, 2011 at 1:24 PM

Schadenfreude on June 25, 2011 at 1:15 PM

Dang, the commissaress at the end of the cllp trying to “get everyabody to cool down and talk, we are with the guy” even sounds like someone from the old USSR.

Hopefully Reason and others will sue the socks off of D.C., the police officers (who were not quelling a disturbance but were simply stopping the work of the free press), and anybody else involved in this jack-booted action.

/no, I don’t have an opinion

AZfederalist on June 25, 2011 at 1:26 PM

And that was only one in a rather lengthy series of charges which seem to amount to a lot more than the rumors and “unsubstantiated charges” which King refers to during his presser.

Aren’t grand jury indictments *unsubstantiated* by their very definition? The point of the trial is to ascertain guilt or innocence, thus to substantiate or dismiss the charges. Seriously, this is a stupid defense.

lizzie beth on June 25, 2011 at 1:27 PM

This is not going away. Governor Martinez is just as culpable.

Roy Rogers on June 25, 2011 at 1:30 PM

Lucky for Richardson that he didn’t leave a woman to drown in a river, because he would most certainly get in deep trouble for that.

Bishop on June 25, 2011 at 1:39 PM

OT – The USSR in the making.
Schadenfreude on June 25, 2011 at 1:15 PM

Tank, meet anti-tank gun.

http://www.amazon.com/Quality-CAMERAS-POLARIZED-SUNGLASSES-BINOCULARS/dp/B00576FS9K

Bishop on June 25, 2011 at 1:43 PM

Oh, and Atty Gen. Gary King, is, himself, the son of one of our more successful corrupt Governors. He knows how many closets have how many skeletons in them, and won’t allow the Democrat closets to be opened,

LegendHasIt on June 25, 2011 at 1:45 PM

I wonder where, when and how Mr. King got his job.

Oh no, that doesn’t matter. At least, if I’m a triple-riveted, gold-plated, glittering jewel of a moron for being suspicious of DemocRAT-appointed officeholders in Hawaii, why should it matter in New Mexico? Hmmmm?
[crickets chirping, clock ticking, distant traffic noises]

Knott Buyinit on June 25, 2011 at 1:57 PM

But, since we’re all just going to toss around “unsubstantiated charges” anyway, that brings up a possible exit question for the readers. I wonder where, when and how Mr. King got his job. (Oh, come on. We can all play this game.)

Mr. King is the Attorney General of New Mexico, an elected position. Hence, he got his job by winning an election. It didn’t hurt that he was a Democrat is a state that is roughly 60% Democrat.

Henry Bowman on June 25, 2011 at 3:23 PM

I can’t look at Richardson without thinking back to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsvJyJsoBLY

cynccook on June 25, 2011 at 3:30 PM

Wiseguys

Speakup on June 25, 2011 at 5:21 PM

Next phase is to investigate Gary King. What did he know and when did he know it?

Mojave Mark on June 25, 2011 at 5:42 PM

Speaking of slimy Demorats what has happened to Maxine “Medusa” Waters trial? Where the hell is Boehner and his merry gang of RINOs?

inspectorudy on June 25, 2011 at 6:26 PM

Leave Bill Richardson alone!

He speaks Spanish and has an awesome beard.

BigAlSouth on June 25, 2011 at 6:35 PM

This is not going away. Governor Martinez is just as culpable.

Roy Rogers on June 25, 2011 at 1:30 PM

Martinez has been in office for roughly six months. Since she was running for governor at the time the allegations of corruption were reported to her, she turned the information over to Matt Chandler in Dona Ana county to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. How is she culpable?

mchristian on June 25, 2011 at 6:38 PM

He’s just a poor, misunderstood, Friend-of-Bill, hyphenated-American crooked politician… who has enough dirt on anyone daring to prosecute him.

He probably even has access to their FBI files Reno betrayed with sleazy Eric Holder probably willing to continue that tradition of graft… for a price.

viking01 on June 25, 2011 at 7:31 PM

I wonder where, when and how Mr. King got his job.

Actually the question is: Can he hold that job until the statute of limitations runs out?

Freddy on June 25, 2011 at 11:12 PM

Actually the question is: Can he hold that job until the statute of limitations runs out?
Freddy on June 25, 2011 at 11:12 PM

Probably. The people of both sides like him. His daddy is considered “a good ol’ boy” and people didn’t seem to mind his corruption and abuse of office. Sonny Boy King can likely hold on to the job as long as he wants it.

He has run for Congress a few times, and lost, but as long as he doesn’t set his sights on national office, or switches to a more liberal district, he will get elected to whatever he wants.

Here in NM, anyone can get us into bed with them, as long as they ‘tell us that we are pretty’ first, or tell us other obvious, but ‘pretty’ lies.

I had to laugh (sadly) at Richardson before his first election to Governor…. Now, I live in a pretty conservative area…. He got the local newspaper, the Chamber of Commerce, the business Community, the teachers, etc to endorse him…. By telling them that he would turn our crappy little community college into a “World Class University” and bring large factories into our (small mountain resort town with no industrial infrastructure at all) community to give thousands of high paying jobs” And the idiots, who I thought should know better, fell for it.

TWICE. .

LegendHasIt on June 26, 2011 at 2:24 AM

But, since we’re all just going to toss around “unsubstantiated charges” anyway, that brings up a possible exit question for the readers. I wonder where, when and how Mr. King got his job. (Oh, come on. We can all play this game.)

Former governor Bill Richardson? Just a guess.

IowaWoman on June 25, 2011 at 12:38 PM

What “IowaWoman” wrote ^^.

Lourdes on June 26, 2011 at 9:48 AM

“My pizza never hurt NObody!”

Lourdes on June 26, 2011 at 9:56 AM