Former Gov. Bill Richardson (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Amanda Cooper and Jimmy Daskalos appeared at federal courthouse Tuesday while grand jury was meeting
Two high-profile politicos with ties to Bill Richardson apparently testified Tuesday before a federal grand jury investigating the former governor.
From The Santa Fe New Mexican:
“A former deputy campaign manager with former Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign and an Albuquerque restaurateur and developer appeared before a federal grand jury looking into possible wrongdoing by the state’s former chief executive.
“But neither Amanda Cooper nor Jimmy Daskalos had anything to say as they entered and left the Pete V. Domenici federal courthouse Tuesday in Albuquerque.
“Cooper is the stepdaughter of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and worked as Richardson’s deputy campaign manager during his presidential run. Cooper also worked on Richardson’s 2006 re-election campaign for governor.
“Daskalos, who has owned Yanni’s, a prominent Albuquerque restaurant, with Richardson insider Nick Kapnison, was a fundraiser for the former governor.”
The Albuquerque Journal added that neither Cooper nor Daskalos would comment on the situation. Grand jury proceedings are secret.
From the Journal:
“Campaign contributors with varying degrees of business with the state during the Richardson administrations (2003-2010) have been called to testify, as have campaign officials of his bid for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.
“Richardson confidant Anthony Correra, who has been at the center of separate investigation into state investment business, appeared last month.”
The Albuquerque Journal first reported on the federal investigation in mid November. The Wall Street Journal later reported that Richardson’s political allies allegedly “gave $250,000 to placate a woman who was considering suing the governor in 2007, exposing their alleged extramarital affair” while he was seeking the Democratic Party’s 2008 nomination for president.
And The New York Times has reported that “a sexual harassment claim was made against Mr. Richardson around 2007 by a woman connected to state government and that a settlement was discussed with one of the former governor’s personal lawyers.” The woman, The Times reported, “complained privately in 2007 that she had felt pressured into having a sexual relationship with Mr. Richardson.”
The Times reported that the $250,000 payoff “was believed to have been wired to the woman’s lawyer from a bank in Mexico.”
Read today’s New Mexican article here and the Journal article here.