WASHINGTON (CNN) - At first blush it's not particularly easy to connect the New England Patriots' spying flap to President Bush, but Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson found a way to do it Friday.
"The president has been allowed to spy on Americans without a warrant, and our U.S. Senate is letting it continue," said the New Mexico governor in a statement. "You know something is wrong when the New England Patriots face stiffer penalties for spying on innocent Americans than Dick Cheney and George Bush."
Richardson attended high school and college in the Boston area.
After the NFL determined the Patriots secretly videotaped the New York Jets' defensive signals during last week’s game, Commissioner Roger Goodell fined head coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the Patriot's organization $250,000. The Patriots will also have to give up next year's first-round draft choice if they reach the playoffs. They will forfeit their second and third round draft picks if they do not reach the postseason.
- CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney