Senator Domenici admits calling U.S. Attorney fired in Bush administration purge

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Senator Admits Calling U.S. Attorney
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 4, 2007

Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) acknowledged today that he contacted the U.S. attorney in Albuquerque last fall to inquire about the status of an ongoing corruption probe of Democrats, saying he regretted the call but "never pressured him nor threatened him in any way."

Domenici also said he had told the Justice Department that U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias should be replaced, but said that occurred prior to the call about the criminal investigation of Democrats.

In retrospect, I regret making that call and I apologize," Domenici said in a statement. "However, at no time in that conversation or any other conversation with Mr. Iglesias did I ever tell him what course of action I thought he should take on any legal matter. I have never pressured him nor threatened him in any way."

Domenici's statement comes four days after Iglesias alleged in interviews with reporters that two New Mexico lawmakers had called him in mid-October and pressured him about the pace of the investigation. Iglesias is one of eight U.S. attorneys who were part of a mass firing that has caused an uproar on Capitol Hill, and said he believed the calls were at the root of his dismissal....

***

A communication by a senator or House member with a federal prosecutor regarding an ongoing criminal investigation is a violation of ethics rules, experts say.

The prosecutor firings, which already had become a major controversy in Congress, has boiled over as the result of Iglesias's allegations of political interference. Iglesias and five other former U.S. attorneys are scheduled to testify about their dismissals Tuesday.

White House and Justice Department officials acknowledged Friday that the White House had approved of the unusual firings, in which seven of the prosecutors were called on Dec. 7 and asked to resign, even though most had positive job reviews. An eighth prosecutor was told earlier he was fired in order to make room for a former aide to presidential adviser Karl Rove....

***

At the time of the phone calls, Wilson was locked in intensely tight re-election battle with state Attorney General Patricia Madrid, a race Wilson won by less than 2,000 votes. A close ally of Domenici's, Wilson is widely considered the most likely GOP nominee should he decide not to seek re-election in 2008....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030400507.html?sub=AR

[keepCAblue]

1. K&R ... more rethuglican congressional ethics violations.

:spank:

Big surprise.

[MasonJar]

2. Oh, sure, Domenici, we really believe that! Good chance to get rid of both

of them in 2008.

[Cybergata]

3. Isn't domenici dead yet!

I've been hearing for years just how sick he is, but he still is in Congress. The man has so much power he must have team of doctors keeping alive by a thread. He is the real "Mr. Burns," from the Simpson. Evil, barely alive and using his vast power for his own selfish means. I fear that even death isn't going to rid of us Domenici and his Domencici-bot, Heather Wilson. He has been shaping Heather-bot into his replacement for years. The two of them are scary people. They just refuse to allow anyone take their seats in congress. If they can't cheat to maintain their seats, I wouldn't put it pass them to use deadly force.

Everytime there is a scandal I hope we are getting rid of them, but they are still here. If they go in 2008 I'd be overjoyed, but I'm skeptical.

[nightrain]

4. 8/31 article about Domenici's response to Gonzales' departure

I'm hoping that people will stay current with the issue of Domenici's participation in the US Attorney scandal. Found this article in San Antonio paper--

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/stories/MYSA090107.01O.domenici2ed.221c6e4.html


Any others interested?