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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Obama commerce nominee pulls out | Obama commerce nominee pulls out |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has withdrawn as US President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary. | New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has withdrawn as US President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary. |
| Mr Richardson's decision was linked to a pending investigation into a company which has done business with his state. | Mr Richardson's decision was linked to a pending investigation into a company which has done business with his state. |
| In a joint statement, Mr Obama said he had accepted Mr Richardson's decision to withdraw "with deep regret". | In a joint statement, Mr Obama said he had accepted Mr Richardson's decision to withdraw "with deep regret". |
| Mr Richardson denied any wrongdoing but said that the inquiry could take months and he could not allow the commerce department's work to be delayed. | Mr Richardson denied any wrongdoing but said that the inquiry could take months and he could not allow the commerce department's work to be delayed. |
| "Let me say unequivocally that I and my administration have acted properly in all matters and that the investigation will bear out that fact," Mr Richardson's statement said. | "Let me say unequivocally that I and my administration have acted properly in all matters and that the investigation will bear out that fact," Mr Richardson's statement said. |
| "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process." | "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process." |
| He had asked for his name to be withdrawn with "great sorrow", Mr Richardson said, adding that he would continue in his present role as governor. | He had asked for his name to be withdrawn with "great sorrow", Mr Richardson said, adding that he would continue in his present role as governor. |
| Mr Obama described Mr Richardson's decision to withdraw his candidacy as "a measure of his willingness to put the nation first". | |
| A federal grand jury in Albuquerque is investigating how a California company that contributed to Mr Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico state contract. | |
| The company was not named in the joint statement issued by Mr Obama's office. | |
| Mr Richardson, the nation's most prominent Hispanic politician, becomes the first big-name figure to drop out of Mr Obama's cabinet. | |
| Mr Obama is to be sworn in as the new US president on 20 January. | Mr Obama is to be sworn in as the new US president on 20 January. |