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Barack Obama |
David Johnston, "Secretary of Transportation Will Not Face a Prosecutor," The New York Times, 3/17/95
Johanna Neuman, "The Fall Of Enron," Los Angeles Times, 2/11/02Peña Was A Member Of The Colorado State Legislature, Mayor Of Denver, And President Clinton's Secretary Of Transportation And Secretary Of Energy. (The Washington Post Web site, www.washingtonpost.com, Accessed 6/24/08)
- Peña Is Now A Managing Director With Vestar Capital Partners, A Private Equity Firm. "Federico is a Managing Director in Vestar's Denver office, which he joined in 1998. … At Vestar, Federico focuses on opportunities in the Media and Communications sector, with a particular emphasis on Latino-owned companies. He also pursues investments in the field of alternative energy." (Vestar Capital Web site, www.vestarcapital.com, Accessed 6/24/08)
The Justice Department Investigated Peña After Peña's Investment Firm Received A Contract To Manage Transit Pension Funds 19 Days After He Became Transportation Secretary. "The Justice Department's inquiry into Mr. Peña began in February after The Los Angeles Times reported that Mr. Peña's investment firm had been awarded a contract to manage $5 million in Los Angeles transit pension funds 19 days after Mr. Peña took office as Transportation Secretary." (David Johnston, "Secretary of Transportation Will Not Face a Prosecutor," The New York Times, 3/17/95)
Federico Peña Is Co-Chairman Of Obama's Campaign. "Former Clinton Cabinet member Federico Peña said Friday that he is becoming a co-chairman of Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign." (Nedra Pickler, "Former Clinton Official Backs Obama," The Associated Press, 9/7/07)
Obama, Who Claims To Be Against Yucca Mountain, "Raised Eyebrows When He Chose Frederico Peña," Who Took Credit For Advancing Yucca Mountain, As His Surrogate On The Issue. "[Obama] has said he's opposed to Yucca Mountain, and has called for the facility's closure. … Obama also raised eyebrows when he chose Federico Peña, who was energy secretary before Richardson, as his surrogate on the issue. At his departure from the Energy Department, Peña took credit for 'meeting milestones' toward opening the site." (Kathleen Hennessey, "Democrats' Anti-Yucca Mountain Stances Complicated By Records," The Associated Press State & Local Wire, 11/13/07)
Obama's Link With Peña Raises Concerns That Obama May Be "Too Sympathetic To Big Electricity." "There are other reasons to ask if an Obama administration might be too sympathetic to big electricity. … When he was Bill Clinton's energy secretary, Obama campaign co-chair Federico Peña vigorously promoted electricity deregulation, promised it would save consumers money . . . . Exelon's chief lobbyist, Elizabeth A. Moler, was Peña's deputy at the Energy Department." (Jay Hancock, Op-Ed, "Obama's Exelon Ties Merit Close Look," The Baltimore Sun, 1/25/08)
In September, Peña Appeared On Stage With Obama At A Colorado Campaign Event. "A string of politicians and others took the stage, from U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar to state Sen. Abel Tapia and former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, a national co- chair for the Obama campaign." (David Montero, "Obama Wows Grand Junction, Pueblo," [Denver, CO] Rocky Mountain News, 9/16/08)
Federico Peña Is A Bundler For Obama's Presidential Campaign And Has Committed To Raising $50,000 To $100,000. (Obama For America Web site, www.barackobama.com, Accessed 7/17/08)
- Peña Has Contributed $4,600 To Obama In The 2008 Election Cycle. (Center For Responsive Politcs, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 6/24/08)
Obama On Peña: "Federico is one of the outstanding public servants in this generation ... He has served at every level of government. He is a genuine policy wonk in the best meaning of the term. When I was talking about him possibly endorsing me, he didn't ask about politics ... He asked about my positions on issues. And he has enormous credibility, both in national political circles and in the Latino community - a community where we are still not as well-known as some of the other candidates." (M.E. Sprengelmeyer, "Being A Surrogate For Presidential Candidates Isn't Easy," Scripps Howard News Service, 10/15/07)