Bill Richardson, former statesman and hostage negotiator, dies aged 75

Ex-New Mexico governor, energy secretary, congressman and UN ambassador spent his later years helping Americans held abroad

Bill Richardson, a 2008 presidential candidate, former New Mexico governor, congressman, secretary of energy and UN ambassador under the Clinton administration who later found a role as an international hostage negotiator, has died. He was 75 years old.

Richardson was reported to have died on Friday at his summer home in Chatham, Massachusetts. Governor Richardson passed away peacefully in his sleep last night," said Mickey Bergman, vice-president of the Richardson Center for Global Engagement, which Richardson founded to promote international peace and dialogue.