U.S. President-elect Barack Obama
listens as New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (L) speaks after being
introduced as nominee for commerce secretary during a news conference in
Chicago December 3, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo
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WASHINGTON,
Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has withdrawn as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."
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4
(Xinhua) -- A financial company headquartered in Los Angeles denied on Sunday
that it had done anything wrong that caused New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
to withdraw as President-elect Barack Obama's commerce secretary.
Richardson announced his withdrawal earlier in the day,
citing an investigation of the CDR Financial Products' business dealings with
the state government he leads. Full story
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack
Obama warned on Friday that the worst was yet to come for the U.S. economy after
the unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent in November, the highest level in 15
years.
"The 533,000 jobs lost last month, the worst job loss in
34 years, is more than a dramatic reflection of the growing economic crisis we
face," said Obama in a statement.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect
Barack Obama's economic recovery plan will not only aim for meeting short-term
needs, but also will lay the groundwork for long-term growth and prosperity, his
top economic advisor said.
Obama's economic team is "crafting a broad proposal, the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, to support the jobs and incomes
essential for recovery while also making a down payment on our nation's
long-term financial health," Lawrence Summers, who will lead White House
National Economic Council in the Obama administration, wrote in an article
published on Sunday's The Washington Post.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect
Barack Obama on Wednesday called for unity among Americans to share the burden
of the economic crisis and strive for a better future.
"If the American people come together and put their
shoulder to the wheel of history, then I know that we can put our people back to
work and point our country in a new direction," he said in a radio/video message
being broadcast on the Christmas eve.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama nominated on
Wednesday New Mexico governor Bill Richardson as the next secretary of commerce.
"Last week, Vice President-elect Biden and I began the
process of announcing our economic team," Obama told a news conference at his
transition office headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. "Today we are pleased to
name another key member of this team -- our nominee for secretary of commerce,
my great friend, Gov. Bill Richardson."
