Governor to stop speaking of fallen Marine
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The governor said his campaign talks will no longer include a story about the death benefit for the family of a fallen Marine. |  |
Mon May 28, 2007 12:25 am
WASHINGTON — Presidential hopeful Bill Richardson said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press that he will stop using the name of a New Mexico Marine who was killed in Iraq and whose story the Democratic governor has recounted while campaigning.
Richardson has told how he attended a memorial service three years ago for Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin, 21, who was killed in April 2004. The governor said Austin’s mother, De’on Miller of Lovington thanked him for the federal death benefits she had received.
Miller says the conversation about money never took place.
Richardson, who said the conversation inspired him to ask the New Mexico Legislature for a now-passed death benefit for members of the state’s National Guard, was asked in a broadcast interview whether he would stop citing Austin and Miller.
“Yes, I will. I will do that. But we just have different recollections. … I attended that service. I was really moved,” Richardson said.
Richardson had proposed a $250,000 death benefit for New Mexico soldiers, an amount that later was increased to $400,000.
“I respect that woman. I will not mention it again,” he said.
