Gov. won't remark on investigation

SANTA FE (AP) - Gov. Bill Richardson held a brief news conference Monday about his decision to withdraw his nomination as U.S. Commerce Secretary but refused to answer questions about a federal investigation into how his political donors landed lucrative transportation contracts.

Richardson read from a prepared statement and answered a few questions but didn't address a grand jury that is looking into possible "pay-to-play" dealings between CDR Financial Products, which won state contracts for $1.48 million.

The Democratic governor said he didn't want to jeopardize the process by commenting on the investigation. He said he has "faith in the criminal justice process, and we must allow it to run its course."