Fired U.S. Attorney Felt "Leaned On"

Dismissed Federal Prosecutor Tells Senate Committee He Was Sickened By Senator's Phone Call

(CBS/AP) 
But as a former district attorney in Philadelphia, he was clearly troubled by reports that two lawmakers — Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson, both New Mexico Republicans — contacted their state's U.S. attorney about a pending case. Domenici and Wilson have acknowledged making the calls, but denied placing political pressure on Iglesias.

"United States attorneys have to be allowed to do their job in an unfettered way," Specter said.

For their parts, six former U.S. attorneys said they got little or no information about why they were fired.

Domenici had complained repeatedly to high-level Justice Department officials about Iglesias, the department said. Wilson said that she, too, had spoken with Iglesias about "the slow pace" of federal corruption probes in the state.

Iglesias told the panel he received a call from Wilson about two weeks earlier, in which she asked him about sealed indictments — a topic prosecutors cannot discuss. Wilson's question "raised red flags in my head," Iglesias said.

"I was evasive and nonresponsive to her question," Iglesias told the panel, saying he talked generally about why some indictments are sealed. "She was not happy with that answer. And she said, 'Well I guess I'll have to take your word for it." The call ended almost immediately, Iglesias said.

Asked by Schumer if he felt pressured by that call, Iglesias replied: "Yes sir, I did."

Like Domenici, Wilson denied pressuring the New Mexico prosecutor. She said earlier Tuesday she had called Iglesias because she had received an allegation "by a constituent with knowledge of ongoing investigations" that he "was intentionally delaying corruption prosecutions." She said Iglesias denied that allegation, saying he simply had few people to handle corruption cases. "I told him that I would take him at his word, and I did," Wilson said.

In a joint statement ahead of Tuesday's hearings, six of the eight former prosecutors made clear that some of them had differences with the Department of Justice. Former U.S. Attorney for Arizona Paul Charlton was one of the six who was subpoenaed to testify Tuesday and issued the statement.

"When we had new ideas or differing opinions, we assumed that such thoughts would always be welcomed by the department and could be freely and openly debated within the halls of that great institution," six of the attorneys said in a joint statement released ahead of the hearings.

Iglesias has also said he would relate details of a conversation with two members of Congress who he says pressured him to rush indictments in an investigation into an alleged Democratic kickback scheme that could have helped Republicans in the November 2006 elections.

Domenici said over the weekend that he had contacted Iglesias in October 2006 to ask about progress of the probe, though he denied putting any pressure on the prosecutor.

In her statement Tuesday, Wilson said the department dismissed Iglesias "without input from me." Her telephone call was not politically motivated, she said, and the conversation was "brief and professional."

"If the purpose of my call has somehow been misperceived, I am sorry for any confusion," Wilson said.

[gunnerv1]

Zoroastor: How many potential witness's have turned up dead that could have brought down the "Bubba" Presidency? Last count was over fifty. Your right about Felony convictions. Bill and Hillry -- dead men don't tell tales.

[gunnerv1]

skyk:What do Fascist and Naszism have to do with the hireing and fireing of a political appointed employee? You kind of lost me here or I forgot to turn the page, and if I remember right, no where did I call you any type of name (It's always the Libs. that get weird first) What in the wide wide world of the Swastika does the OVERSIGHT of the Senate/House have to do with this? You pathetic Fascist grow more desperate with each passing day!! LOL Go back, take off the swastika, and READ the story! God how stupid do you have to be to be a fascist? ROFLMAO
Posted by skyk at 08:02 AM : Mar 07, 2007

[bm6005]

Domenici is an embarassment to the Italian people! I like to think of him as a Klingon.

[observantx]

It's time for our chief torture advocate Alberto Gonzalez to be rendered to Gitmo so that he can have his own private secret hearing. Pete Domenici should carry his luggage for him and then have his own little chat with the secret kangaroo court.

What a bunch of power hungry, self serving hypocrites.

[zoroastor]

This "presidency" is the "Worst episode EVER!"

Felony convictions of Clinton Administration = 0
(tax $ spent trying to get one = $40 million

Felony Convictions of Reagan/Bush Admin = 13
Pardoned by reagan or bush = 6

Felony convictions of Nixon Admin = 4, which does not include misdemeanor convictions, convictions of low level, non-administration types such as the 5 CIA agents that actually did the break in or the 1 Giant Blanket Pardon by Ford

Felony convictions (so far) of the W administration = 1

I look forward to many more.

[skyk-2009]

Don' forget, "all political appointee's serve at the pleasure of the appointer" and may be terminated at anytime with or without cause. Now put the shoe on the other foot and it was a Democratic Admin.investigating some repulicans and they were not moving fast enough to suit someone in the Senate/House. Would you be screaming just a loud?
Posted by gunnerv1 at 07:22 AM : Mar 07, 2007
+ report this comment

What in the wide wide world of the Swastika does the OVERSIGHT of the Senate/House have to do with this? You pathetic Fascist grow more desperate with each passing day!! LOL Go back, take off the swastika, and READ the story! God how stupid do you have to be to be a fascist? ROFLMAO

[gunnerv1]

Don' forget, "all political appointee's serve at the pleasure of the appointer" and may be terminated at anytime with or without cause. Now put the shoe on the other foot and it was a Democratic Admin.investigating some repulicans and they were not moving fast enough to suit someone in the Senate/House. Would you be screaming just a loud?

[karlimhof]

Libby's false account of events, he added, was meant to serve as a "blocker ... to cut off all those conversations with people, including the vice president." There is, Fitzgerald said, "a cloud over the White House as to what happened. Don't you think the FBI, the grand jury, the American people are entitled to a straight answer?"

- Patrick Fitzgerald

[aznyron-2009]

reading this reminds me of the movie Philadelphi with Tom hans & Denzel Washinton when Tom hanks was dismissed for having aids and said his work was shabby but in the end Tom Hanks won in court I am getting educated on how goverment works if you don't play dirty pool for the party you get bounced out it seem the Rep are the experts in that kind of game they have a lot of practice dating back to the willie horton deal againts then running for Pres, Mike DuKakis and swift boat episode agains John kerry and the Monic story against a sitting President Clinton we can go on & on all the way back to Joe McCarthy another rep claiming communist in our goverment and forming commitie to destroy any one who does not co operate with them like Alga Hiss and Larry Parks along with many other hollywood writers and actors amen

[karlimhof]

These unending Republican power scandals prove the dangerous cancer this party represents.

What will they NOT do to impose their will on the American people - this is totalitarian!

Down with this regime ! We are Americans, not Bulgarians !!!!

[tucson23]

You want proof Republican voters are stupid, ignorant fools? Wait until 2008--I bet you Pete Domenici, a corrupt a$$ who chooses party over justice, will be re-elected. Thank GOD Bush won't be...

[skyk-2009]

Did he feel "leaned on" or "spooned" like the lady on the NW Airlines flight? It makes a difference! :)
Posted by US_Infidel at 03:28 PM : Mar 06, 2007

I think everyone here knows you don't care as long as the fascist and the party isn't hurt! Why don't you just be honest about it? It's so obvious you don't give a *** about the nation or the FACT that these people were fired because they didn't produce for the party. NONE of it matters to you. I just wish you'd be honest about it for a change. Sieg Heil!!

[mwilson30058]

wjksea, please wake up, your sarcasm about what you read was the official white corporate america kiss of death.This government does not really care nor do you. If this information was not published would you really care, or would you have really known about it.
Why are you surprised about the white american legal system. Clearly any educated person can see the Congresspersons who phone prosecutors are not phoning them to invited them to dinner or invite them to lunch. Wilson and Dommenici are phoning to interfer in what does not concern them. They Phoned on behalf of someone or some organization to get results. Watch the joke as the Congress will willfully turn a blind eye to the incident and absolve their fellow members. Clearly as we can see work performance was not the issue and if these congressmen were really concerned they could have spokenn to the prosecutors bosses instead of speaking directly with the prosecutor. See Wilson and Dommenici were not happy with the answers they received from the prosecutor so they pulled strings behind the prosecutors back. Its calleed a wonderful white american stab in the back, where they smile with you to your face and plant the knife figuratively firmly in the middle of your back. What goes around comes around. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

[j0hnwi11iams]

What republicans want if a fast lane for democrats and a slow lane for republicans. This is about corruption in high places seeping into the system. This isn't about being fair, it is about eliminating the competition. Gonzo should be fired, but he won't.

[clemenhagen1]

This president has his supporters along with the Republicans who have controlled Congress since 1994 either do not know or do not care how the our constitutional system works. The president behaves as if he has an emporer's power, and the administration apologists claim he's "commander-in-chief during a time of war" and thus can exercise unchecked power (war without end, torture, spying without a warrant, etc). The recent Congress under Republican rule exercised virtually zero of the constitutionally mandated duties of oversight. Does anyone really believe the Republican controlled congress of days ago would be investigating the Walter Reed fiasco. That would have been swept under the rug for fear of "embarrassing the administration." Now we have clear and unquestioned evidence that Republican lawmakers knowingly violated the supposed independence of the judicial and legal systems by pressuring entities to push politically motivated cases. When those prosecutors did not march lockstep like good Republican fascists they got sacked, just like Shinseki or any other competent official before them who did not obey the directives from above. Censure at a minimum, impeachment if the tampering and firing is as blatant as it appears. And how about sending all conservatives back for a crash course on Madisonian democracy. The preachers preaching on Justice Sunday could use a refresher as well.

[crater7]

THESE GUYS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES BEING LEANED ON. DONT FORGET THE TWO BORDER PATROL AGENTS RAMOS & COMPEAN WHO WAS ARRESTED, PROSECUTED AND SENT TO PRISON FOR DOING THEIR JOBS. THEY WERE SENT TO PRISON FOR SHOOTING A MEXICAN DRUG DEALER, WHO WAS GIVEN IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION FOR HIS TESTIMONY AGAINST THE BORDER POTROL AGENTS. THIS CASE IS NOT OVER BY A LONG SHOT. THIS CASE STINKS BIG TIME.

[Decimiller]

The Questions. Should corrupt acts in the Attorney General's Office be considered more significant than "Travelgate"? Will this be treated as dismissive as the 'outing' of a CIA agent by the Administration.

[us_infidel]

Did he feel "leaned on" or "spooned" like the lady on the NW Airlines flight? It makes a difference! :)

[Syndicate]

The best way to keep from getting fired is to dig up as much dirt as possible on your employer. Look for Illegal stuff as this will be most valuable. Either in getting your employer arrested or getting them to pay you to just leave and keep your mouth shut. Keep track of your rights too most employer have no idea what they are doing and often violate an employees rights without even knowing it. Its rather easy to come back at them with a wrongful dismissal suit if you do your homework.

[starleo146]

If you do not cow tow with this administration they will get you look what they did to Valerie Plame. Rodrigues will get found out just like Sooter did.