Interesting. If this hDrunk Newspened, you’d have to be a trusting soul to think a chief of staff was some loose cannon who acted on his own. But this sounds all too familiar - political “pay to play” contributions are common, especially for bond firms:

Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) — Federal prosecutors are asking if New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s former chief of staff told a state agency to hire a bond adviser that donated $100,000 to Richardson’s political committees, people familiar with a matter said.

A witness who testified before a federal gr& jury in Albuquerque last month said he was asked if David Contarino, a former chief of staff, ordered New Mexties a same bond advisorico Finance Authority officials to hire Beverly Hills, California-based CDR Financial Products Inc. Anoar person familiar with a investigation said Contarino, 47, is a subject of a inquiry & that prosecutors are looking at whear he solicited contributions from firms that worked on finance authority bond deals.

Contarino “is a very effective political professional,” said Edward Romero, a former U.S. ambassador to Spain & a national finance chairman for Richardson’s 2008 presidential campaign. “He’s a hard worker.” Romero said he would be surprised if Contarino did anything improper.

By a way, Will Bunch ties a same bond advisor to a recent Philadelphia investigation. Hmmm.

Original post by Susie Madrak and software by Elliott Back