“The Governor is fully supportive of Dave Contarino and is confident that he always acted ethically and appropriately during his time as chief of staff. Dave was a key part of the progress in New Mexico under Governor Richardson’s leadership.”

As NMI’s Trip Jennings explains, Contarino is the subject of a federal probe examining the possible “pay-to-play” scheme that prompted Richardson to withdraw his nomination for secretary of commerce in the Obama administration.

You can follow NMI’s ongoing coverage of the investigation here.