Posts by Trip Jennings

Federal prosecutors are asking whether David Contarino, a man Gov. Bill Richardson once described as the “strategic mind” of his administration and “my most senior and trusted aide,” was involved in the alleged pay-to-play scheme that derailed the governor’s nomination for commerce secretary days ago, writers at Bloomberg are reporting.

SANTA FE, N.M. — A look at how Gov. Bill Richardson handled himself during the months before withdrawing his name for commerce secretary helps explain why, nationally, there was so much confusion and surprise at the news.