U.S. Attorney Scandal: Feds Probe Domenici for Obstruction of Justice In Iglesias Firing

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

U.S. Attorney Scandal: Feds Probe Domenici for Obstruction of Justice In Iglesias Firing
By Murray Waas - February 4, 2009, 5:14PM
A federal grand jury probe of the firings of nine U.S. attorneys during the Bush administration is focusing on the role played by recently retired Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and former senior Bush White House aides in the 2006 dismissal of David Iglesias as U.S. attorney for New Mexico, according to legal sources familiar with the inquiry.

The federal grand jury is investigating whether Domenici and other political figures attempted to improperly press Iglesias to bring a criminal prosecution against New Mexico Democrats just prior to the 2006 congressional midterm elections, according to legal sources close to the investigation and private attorneys representing officials who prosecutors want to question. Investigators appear to be scrutinizing Iglesias' firing in the context of whether he was fired in retaliation because Domenici and others believed that he would not manipulate the timing of prosecutions to help Republicans.

Previously, Domenici was severely criticized by two internal Justice Department watchdog offices, the Department's Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), for refusing to cooperate with their earlier probe of the firings of the U.S. attorneys. In part because of their frustration that Domenici and his chief of staff, Steve Bell, as well as several senior White House officials, would not cooperate with them, the Inspector General and OPR sought that a criminal prosecutor take over their probe. It is unclear whether Domenici will now cooperate with the criminal probe. Domenici's attorney, Lee Blalack, in an interview, declined to say what Domenici will do when he is contacted by investigators.

The focus of the grand jury probe was described by a federal law enforcement official, two witnesses who have been recently been asked to answer questions from investigators, and an attorney representing a former Justice Department official who has been told that investigators want to question his client. People who had been contacted by investigators spoke on the condition that they not be named because they did not want to upset federal law enforcement officials who would question and investigate them and also because they believe that simply being questioned might unfairly tarnish their reputations.


Read more: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/grand_jury_investigation_of_us_attorney_firings_fo.php

[Botany]

1. The NSA did the spying & the DoJ was the muscle ... U.S. Attorneys = hit men

:popcorn:

[jaysunb]

2. RICO...

The facts are all there. Where's the prosecution ?

[L. Coyote]

15. Nixon could be one of the RICO conspirator, except he was pardoned!

[Demeter]

3. I'm Going to Big Box Store for Popcorn

:popcorn:

[EFerrari]

4. Oh, please!

[midnight]

5. Speaking of no. 43 Justice Dept. scandle, how is Don Siegelman's case going?

Does anyone have an update?

[merh]

6. Does this investigation include the other political prosecutions

Seigelman and Minor, et al? Is this investigation why MS US Attorney Lampton retired at the end of Jan. 09?

The grand jury investigation is currently being led by Nora Dannehy, the acting U.S. attorney in Connecticut. Then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey named Dannehy to "determine whether any prosecutable offense was committed" in the course of the firings following September's report by the Inspector General and OPR on the firings.

link to post about Lampton retirement.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=4941541

[JDPriestly]

18. U.S. attorneys normally resign when a new president takes office.

Lampton was following the custom by resigning. Doesn't mean she isn't implicated in wrongdoing. But her resignation doesn't mean she is either.

[merh]

19. Lampton is a he and he has been implicated in the wrong doing

Conyers report and the OPR report reference his prosecutorial misconduct. Additionally, he illegally released private tax information in violation of the law. Lampton did not resign, he retired - there is a difference in the timing and the language used. (Normally, once an AG has been confirmed and sworn in he/she advises the USAs in the states that their resignations are expected, they can resign and be reappointed. Holder had not been confirmed when Lampton retired.)

You may want to google Lampton and/or just check out Larisa's or Scott Horton's articles on his abuses in office.

[pacalo]

7. Who do you think you are now, Mr. Big-Stuff Turdblossom?

Looks like a clear-cut case to me for Turdblossom to serve jail time; it's just a matter of how clean the prosecutor is.

[Hepburn]

8. Domenici: ESAD!

Asshole...lying, no good, RW asshole.

[rateyes]

9. Sounds like they also might be going after Heather Wilson...

Oooooohhhhh, how I would LOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEE to see a grand jury wipe that damned smug look off her sorry face.

[burrowowl]

10. I would love to see

Heather investigated!

[TygrBright]

12. ohpleaseohpleaseohplease!!!

I would SO love to see Heather "Skanky Cow" Wilson rendered politically null and void for the next fifty years or so...

wishfully,
Bright

[abq e streeter]

11. Not our "Saint Pete"...how could the local media keep doing adoring fluff pieces

on him if he's in prison. And please please please, let Heather be right behind him.

[NM Independent]

13. HELL YES!!!

I've been crossing my fingers for this one. Domenici and Wilson stuffed in the bag with Rove.

Shaweet!!!

[defendandprotect]

14. Domenici ... pretty slippery guy ...!!

[certainot]

16. great example of the power of RW talk radio

the big limbaugh station KKOB 770 , was going all out (getting talking points from GOP) pushing election fraud deflection (dems needed to be investigated) and all the ditto heads were getting lathered up by the local blowhards to push their reps, domenici and wilson, to get rid of iglesias. i guess they call it blowback. ironic.

[JDPriestly]

17. This is the reason Rove is afraid to appear before Congress.

This is serious stuff, and Rove was the conduit for the communication between Domenici and the Justice Department. Uh-oh! This is just the beginning of the end for Rove.