I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
The chairman of the state agency at the center of a federal investigation into pay-to-play allegations against Gov. Bill Richardson‘s administration said today that the investigation is complete and has been forwarded to the office of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
“It’s my understanding is that the grand jury investigation has been completed. It has been forwarded to the U.S. Attorney General’s office,” Stephen Flance, chairman of the New Mexico Finance Authority, told lawmakers Wednesday.
“We are waiting to see what comes out of the investigation. Are we worried? Yes. We are. But I really believe the NMFA will not be a target. That’s where things stand now.”
While media reports have suggested that the investigation has been forwarded to Washington, this is the first confirmation by any public official involved in the process.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder declined to comment on whether he had the investigation last Friday when he was in Albuquerque.
Flance also told lawmakers that federal investigators had interviewed several individuals affiliated with NMFA.
“Several of us have been interviewed by the FBI,” Flance said. “We have all been part of the grand jury investigation and we have all participated.”
He added that the agency has handed over reams and reams of information to the grand jury.
“With some level of confidence, I can say no one who is currently with the authority is under any suspicion … of being involved in wrongdoing,” Flance said.
Federal prosecutors have been looking into a lucrative contract that the New Mexico Finance Authority awarded to the California company — CDR Financial Inc. — that made big contributions to political action committees formed by Gov. Bill Richardson.
The names of Dave Contarino, Gov. Bill Richardson’s former chief of staff, and David Harris have come up in media reports about the investigation.
Harris worked at NMFA until 2004.
In January, the investigation into CDR’s contract forced Richardson to withdraw as President Obama’s nominee for U.S. commerce secretary.
