Bill Richardson Under Investigation Again — and This Time It’s About Sex

Never out of the public eye for very long, former New Mexico Gov.  and Spaceport America champion Bill Richardson is once again making headlines — and for all the wrong reasons. The Wall Street Journal reports:

A federal grand jury is investigating former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson over possible campaign-finance violations stemming from his 2008 presidential run, including allegations that he arranged for supporters to pay off a woman who planned to say they had engaged in an extramarital affair, according to people familiar with the inquiry.

Several of Mr. Richardson’s close associates have been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for their testimony before the panel in Albuquerque, the people said. The panel is one of several grand juries in recent years to examine aspects of Mr. Richardson’s administration and campaigns….

Jennifer Poersch, the senior finance adviser for his presidential campaign, said that she was “not aware of any wrongdoing or any inappropriate fund raising,” and that she hadn’t been called to testify before the grand jury….

The most explosive matter under investigation involves allegations by a former member of Mr. Richardson’s inner circle. That individual said Mr. Richardson’s political allies gave $250,000 to placate a woman who was considering suing the governor in 2007, exposing their alleged extramarital affair, according to people familiar with the federal probe. They said the woman was a state employee at the time that she allegedly became romantically involved with Mr. Richardson around 2004. The woman’s identity has not been disclosed, and the type of suit considered has not been confirmed….

Federal investigators are piecing together a paper trail of checks and international wire transfers surrounding the alleged payment to the woman, some people familiar with the matter said. The grand jury is also examining other alleged financial irregularities, as well as whether Mr. Richardson used his clout as governor to push through a controversial road project that benefited a major political contributor, the people said.

This is reportedly the fourth federal investigation of Richardson, who completed his second term as governor at the end of 2010. In early 2009, Richardson withdrew from consideration to become President Barack Obama’s Commerce Secretary because of an ongoing federal probe into links between campaign contributions and state contracts. That probe ended without any charges being filed.

A separate federal grand jury probe has been investigating whether Richardson steer state investments to generate fees for his supporters. That probe is continuing and has not generated any charges.