United Nations Ambassador Bill Richardson was sworn in as Energy Secretary yesterday, a day after Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee leaders cleared him of allegations that he misled the panel about a job offer to Monica Lewinsky.
Richardson will officially take over the post on August 24, but "will not vacate his ambassador post yet, with pressing international issues in Africa and Iraq forcing him to play dual roles," the Associated Press reported.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has yet to even schedule a hearing on the nomination of Richard Holbrooke as Richardson's replacement at the UN.
Richardson's private swearing-in ceremony yesterday may be followed by a public ceremony in September, according to White House spokesperson Nanda Chitre.
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