Politics

Sen. Domenici hires law firm over US Attorney flap

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Facing an ethics inquiry for his role in the widening controversy over the firing of several U.S. Attorneys, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) has hired the same law firm that represented convicted former congressman Duke Cunningham (R-California).

Domenici, who may or may not seek re-election in 2008, acknowledges that he called David Iglesias, the former U.S. Attorney in New Mexico, to ask about a potential probe against state Democrats. He denies doing anything wrong but Iglesias told a Senate committee that he felt pressured to bring indictments right before the November elections, in which Republicans lost control of Congress after Democrats made corruption a campaign issue.

The Senate ethics panel has started a preliminary inquiry into Domenci. The House could do the same for Rep. Heather Wilson (R-New Mexico), who barely won re-election over the state's former attorney general in November.

Get the Story:
Subpoenas Likely for Justice Officials in Prosecutor Firings (The Washington Post 3/8)
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Inquiry Into Ouster of U.S. Attorneys Moves Toward Subpoenas at Justice Department (The New York Times 3/8)
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Domenici Hires Top D.C. Lawyer (The Albuquerque Journal 3/8)