The Democratic Governors Association is refusing to say whether it has been subpoenaed in connection to the federal probe of pay-to-play allegations in New Mexico which derailed Bill Richardson’s bid to be Commerce Secretary.
Asked whether the DGA had received a subpoena, spokesman Brian Namey responded in an email:
The DGA fully cooperates with any state or federal agency that makes legitimate requests for information. The DGA does not make statements concerning any particular investigation.
Four investment firms contributed to the DGA in 2004, around the same time those firms won lucrative contracts to manage the state’s bonds, according to a report in the Albuquerque Journal today. Richardson at the time served as vice chair of the DGA, and would become chair the following year.
Last month, Bloomberg reported that investigators had subpoenaed Richardson’s office for its correspondence with the DGA, in connection with the probe*.
The DGA, which has served as a key stepping-stone to national prominence for some Democrats, is currently chaired by Montana governor Brian Schweitzer. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Richardson’s office has largely declined to comment on the investigation. According to reports, a former aide to Richardson, as well as a Richardson political adviser, have received subpoenas in connection with the probe.
* This sentence has been edited from an earlier version.