Video: Iglesias Testifies in Senate on Wilson, Domenici Calls

Former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, David Iglesias, testifies at this morning's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in response to questions by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). He contradicts the statements made by both Rep. Heather Wilson and Sen. Pete Domenici about the calls.

KUNM Audio: Albuquerque's public radio station, KUNM, has audio of Iglesias' 11+ minute exchange with Sen. Arlen Specter at the hearing, as well as audio of a news story on the matter that includes comments made by Iglesias at a news conference last week.

Meanwhile, Sen. Domenici released a statement after Iglesias' testimony saying he still doesn't know what Iglesias is talking about. I wonder if he issued it in his pajamas, er, hunting trousers....

Democratic Party of New Mexico Weighs In
John Wertheim, Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, had this to say today about the conduct of Rep. Wilson and Sen. Domenici:

“It’s a real shame when people who present themselves as honest disgrace their political careers and their constituents by placing partisan gain above ethical governance,” said John V. Wertheim, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.  “Wilson and Domenici brought pressure to bear on the U.S. Attorney and then sought political retribution when Iglesias would not co-operate.  This politically-motivated intervention into the judicial process is a very grave matter.  I hope Wilson and Domenici will start confronting their misconduct responsibly, stop denying its impact and stop blaming constituents for their behavior.”

Here's the entire statement released today by the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

IGLESIAS CONTRADICTS WILSON, DOMENICI

The depths of vulnerable Republican Congresswoman Heather Wilson’s hypocrisy was exposed today.  In front of House and Senate Committees, recently ousted U.S. Attorney David Iglesias testified that Wilson and U.S. Senator Pete Domenici pressured him to speed up ongoing investigations.  If handed down prior to the election, the alleged indictments would have provided partisan benefit to the embattled Wilson.

Iglesias’ testimony and news reports show that both Wilson and Domenici intervened in an ongoing investigation by contacting the U.S. Attorney’s office in October of 2006.  Wilson, whose knowledge of sealed indictments is itself suspicious, was lagging in public opinion polls at the time of the inappropriate calls.  Despite her cozy relationship with scandal-plagued congressional Republicans, Wilson made ethics and public corruption a central campaign issue.

“It’s a real shame when people who present themselves as honest disgrace their political careers and their constituents by placing partisan gain above ethical governance,” said John V. Wertheim, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.  “Wilson and Domenici brought pressure to bear on the U.S. Attorney and then sought political retribution when Iglesias would not co-operate.  This politically-motivated intervention into the judicial process is a very grave matter.  I hope Wilson and Domenici will start confronting their misconduct responsibly, stop denying its impact and stop blaming constituents for their behavior.”

Wilson’s and Domenici’s initial attempts to stonewall the media only highlighted their guilty conduct.  Domenici and Wilson finally admitted in written statements that they phoned Iglesias.  Although their statements seem waffling and inconsistent, both Wilson and Domenici disingenuously blame anonymousconstituents for prompting them to violate congressional ethics rules.

An independent watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has filed a complaint against Domenici with the Senate Ethics Committee.  Communication by members of congress to U.S. Attorneys is inherently suspect because of congressional members role in the selection, approval and funding of U.S. Attorneys.  As the Washington Post editorialized today the calls were, "ethically dicey in any circumstance." [www.citizensforethics.org/]

Iglesias’ testimony today illustrates how Senator Domenici expressed his displeasure with the pace of the investigation by abruptly hanging up the phone when he became unhappy with Iglesias' response to his inquiry.  Meanwhile, Wilson has many questions to answer about, among other things, how and why she became involved in researching sealed indictments

The Democratic Party of New Mexico