All Blog Posts from Political Hotsheet

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Wednesday that the United States has not put itself in a position of owing North Korea any diplomatic favors by securing the release of two journalists arrested for entering the country illegally.

As former President Bill Clinton flew home with Laura Ling and Euna Lee, Richardson said that in the diplomatic "chess game" between North Korea and Washington, "it's equal right now".

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In another hitch to the Obama transition following Bill Richardson's withdrawal from the Commerce Secretary post, word leaked today that Bill Clinton's former chief of staff Leon Ponetta has been tapped as CIA director.

CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports that the Obama team had planned to announce the selection later this week, but someone close to Panetta revealed he had been tapped for the job before Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the new chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, was told.

Feinstein wasn't happy about the timing and expressed her exasperation publicly.

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In another hitch to the Obama transition following Bill Richardson's withdrawal from the Commerce Secretary post, word leaked today that Bill Clinton's former chief of staff Leon Ponetta has been tapped as CIA director.

CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports that the Obama team had planned to announce the selection later this week, but someone close to Panetta revealed he had been picked for the job before Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the new chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, was told.

Feinstein wasn't happy about the timing and expressed her exasperation publicly.

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Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) explained his reasons for resigning as Barack Obama's appointee for Secretary of Commerce during a press conference in Sante Fe, New Mexico today. Richardson faces a grand-jury investigation into whether he exchanged state contracts with CDR Financial Products for political contributions.

"As you all know I have asked the President-elect not to move forward with my nomination at this time," Richardson said.

A quick disclaimer followed: "I want to emphasize that I acted promptly and my administration acted properly too. A fair and impartial review of the facts will bear that out."

Watch the press conference here:



Richardson told the media that the timing of the investigation would likely slow his confirmation.

"Unfortunately the ongoing CDR investigation would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process and given the gravity of the economic situation the nation is facing I could not in good conscience act the president-elect and his administration to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done," he said.

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