Sen Dominici (R-NM) tried to influence fired US attorney Iglesias

[FourScore]

"Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson of New Mexico pressured the U.S. attorney in their state to speed up indictments in a federal corruption investigation that involved at least one former Democratic state senator, according to two people familiar with the contacts."

SNIP

"The two people with knowledge of the incident said Domenici and Wilson intervened in mid-October, when Wilson was in a competitive re-election campaign that she won by 875 votes out of nearly 211,000 cast.

David Iglesias, who stepped down as U.S. attorney in New Mexico on Wednesday, told McClatchy Newspapers that he believed the Bush administration fired him Dec. 7 because he resisted the pressure to rush an indictment."

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/16813951.htm

On Edit:

More insight from Josh Marshall here:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/012739.php

alyoshakaramazov (in an update at kos) quotes TPM with this (but unfortuately does not provide a link):

"If Iglesias got canned because he wasn't willing to tip the scales of justice in favor of the GOP, it's awfully hard to figure that Lam wasn't fired for what has always seemed to be the most logical reason -- because she was bagging too many corrupt Republicans and getting too deep into the CIA."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/1/232551/2224

[talksabout]

1. break out the popcorn.

this one's gonna get good.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi talksabout!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[FourScore]

20. Welcome to DU, talkabout!

:hi:

[Horse with no Name]

2. They should be impeached or at the least censured

Both of them. YOU DO NOT DO THIS.

[solara]

5. I doubt they will be impeached or even censured..

Either of them. THEY DO WHAT THEY DAMN WELL PLEASE just like all the other Bush-lickin', immoral, greed infused, self righteous, conscience-less, murderous war profiteering Republics that rule this country.

If BushCo can get away with treason, murder and abuse of power.....this is small potatoes

Just sayin'

[FourScore]

11. I think this is big. n/t

[dethl]

3. Where the hell is the ethics inquiry?

We have control of the house....we can investigate this!

I would love to see these two pieces of scum removed from politics and not harming my state anymore.

[solara]

6. I am with you there..it would be cause for much celebration in NM n/t

[FourScore]

8. subpoenas have already been delivered

The House Judiciary Committee will hold hearings next Tuesday.

[rodeodance]

4. of course they wanted them before the election ho ho ho

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. Powers-that-be pushing the help to speed up?

This is news?

Pushing for a speed-up is not the same as pushing for a desired outcome. It sounds like pretty low-level corruption is it's corruption at all.

Do leaders put pressure on attorneys to get their work out faster? Do the reasons ever involve politics?

It'll be interesting to see where this ends up.

[FourScore]

9. I have to dissagree. This is HUGE!

Politicains CANNOT attempt to influence legal proceedings for partisan gain. That is clearly illegal.

[robinlynne]

13. orders came straight from gonzalez honey, right from the very top.

[FourScore]

15. Yep!

This is gonna' get good...:popcorn:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. Ok, I don't quite see it as hugh or unusual, but

if they're frying Republicans, well, that goes great with popcorn!

But if all they did was try to push the date (and failed), I don't see the crime. If they want to hit the AG for wrongful termination, that's a good charge.

For the leadership to orchestrate the timing of legal proceedings for political gain, I'd think that is done by whichever party has control. It's starting to rain subpoenas, and I'd guess the timing of them and the timing of hearings is discussed by congressional leaders, to get the most out of C-SPAN. I doubt if each committee chair is scheduling these things in a vacuum.

[robinlynne]

17. Bus, read up. you're missing the big picture. well, the picture altogether.

[FourScore]

10. New updates with links. n/t

[robinlynne]

12. Hugh! just hugh!

[FourScore]

14. Oh God, no! Here we go again!

You mean...

HUGH!!!!

:evilgrin:

[robinlynne]

18. yes, that's exactly what I meant.