Shots on the House

Pay to Play. Governor Bill Richardson is being investigated, as is a company that did business with the state, and the allegation is that the company was pushing cash around to get state contracts. Governor Bill Richardson is no longer President-elect Obama’s choice for Commerce. This is hit number two to the incoming administration, the first of course being Chief of Staff (to be) Rahm Emanuel’s potential involvement in the Blagojavich drama. The details on Richardson’s withdrawal:

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.

“Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact,” he said Sunday in a report by NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell. “But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process.”

Richardson is contending that he did nothing wrong, which the investigation will either contradict or reinforce, but that’s yet to see. Sad thing? 50% of people still feel as if the transition isn’t going shakily. Heh.