Richardson withdraws as Obama’s commerce secretary
U.S. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has withdrawn as President-elect Barack Obama’s nominee for commerce secretary, NBC reported on Sunday.
Obama has accepted Richardson’s decision, according to the report, and a federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson’s political activities won a lucrative New Mexico state contract.
Richardson becomes the first nominee of Obama’s cabinet to withdraw. The president-elect will take office on January 20.
"Let me say unequivocally that I and my administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact. But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process," Richardson said in a statement released by Obama’s transition team.
"It is also because of that sense of urgency about the work of the Commerce Department that I have asked the President-elect not to move forward with my nomination at this time. I do so with great sorrow. But a pending investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico state government promises to extend for several weeks or, perhaps, even months," Richardson said.
Obama said in a statement that he had accepted Richardson’s decision with "deep regret" and that he would move quickly to fill the position.
Obama said Richardson’s decision showed "his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time."
美国当选总统奥巴马的政权过渡团队成员４日证实，奥巴马已经接受此前被他提名为商务部长的比尔里查考试&大森递交的提名撤消申请。
据美国媒体报道，里查森之所以提出撤消对他的提名，是因为联邦大陪审团正在就加利福尼亚州一家公司因为帮助里查森的政治活动而赢得新墨西哥州提供的一项价值１０亿美元的商业合同案进行调查。
６１岁的里查森现为新墨西哥州长。去年１２月３日奥巴马宣布提名他为下届政府商务部长。按计划，这一提名获参议院批准后，里查森将于明年１月２０日上任。
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