Politics

Report: Feds probing Bill Richardson about alleged payoff to mistress

Alex Pappas Political Reporter
Font Size:

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who ran for president as a Democrat in 2008, is being investigated by a federal grand jury over allegations that campaign supporters paid off a woman who claimed she was his mistress, according to a news report.

The Wall Street Journal cited sources on Thursday that said that pay-off allegation is part of a larger investigation by federal prosecutors into whether Richardson broke campaign finance laws during his run for the White House.

The paper said Richardson is traveling in Africa and could not be reached for comment.

The Wall Street Journal reported that a “former member of Mr. Richardson’s inner circle” told prosecutors that in 2007, allies of Richardson paid a woman who was a state employee at the time $250,000 to stop her from exposing an affair that dated back to 2004.

“Those familiar with the case say prosecutors are seeking to prove that the alleged payment to the woman was a de facto campaign contribution to Mr. Richardson, intended to further his bid for higher office,” the paper reported.

“In that case, the alleged payment could have violated federal campaign-finance law if it was not reported and did not comply with limits on political donations.”

The accusation is similar to what was lodged against another Democrat who ran for president in 2008. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards has pleaded not guilty to charges of arranging money from supporters to his mistress to keep his secret affair from going public.

This is not the first time Richardson has been under investigation by federal investigators. After being appointed secretary of commerce in 2009, he withdrew his appointment after it was revealed that federal investigators were probing possible campaign finance law violations. No charges were ever brought.

Follow Alex on Twitter