Domenici Sought Iglesias Ouster (Albuquerque Journal)

[marmar]

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Domenici Sought Iglesias Ouster

By Mike Gallagher
Copyright © 2007 Albuquerque Journal; Journal Investigative Reporter

Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias was fired after Sen. Pete Domenici, who had been unhappy with Iglesias for some time, made a personal appeal to the White House, the Journal has learned.
Domenici had complained about Iglesias before, at one point going to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before taking his request to the president as a last resort.
The senior senator from New Mexico had listened to criticism of Iglesias going back to 2003 from sources ranging from law enforcement officials to Republican Party activists.
Domenici, who submitted Iglesias' name for the job and guided him through the confirmation process in 2001, had tried at various times to get more white-collar crime help for the U.S. Attorney's Office— even if Iglesias didn't want it.
At one point, the six-term Republican senator tried to get Iglesias moved to a Justice Department post in Washington, D.C., but Iglesias told Justice officials he wasn't interested.
...(more)...
Iglesias testified that Domenici said, "I'm very sorry to hear that." And then hung up.
Iglesias said he felt "pressured" and "violated" by the telephone call but did not report it to Justice Department headquarters as required.
Domenici has admitted and apologized for making the call, but he denied pressuring Iglesias. He has also said he didn't mention the election. ....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.abqjournal.com/news/special/554986nm04-15-07.htm

[Demeter]

1. k&r That's Quite a Muckraking Article! Bye-bye Pete!

There's enough there to take out Domenici and Gonzales and Bush.

[aquart]

2. It's not wrong to complain. We all have that right.

Unless the reasons for the complaints are a failure to prosecute Democrats and specific prosecution against corrupt Republicans that Domenici wanted to derail......what have they got?