Albuquerque Journal: Domenici Sought Iglesias Ouster

New Mexico: Another day, another piece of damning press for Pajamas Pete Domenici. The Albuquerque Journal reports that Domenici specifically sought the firing of former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias and has even confirmed a timetable:

In the spring of 2006, Domenici told Gonzales he wanted Iglesias out.

Gonzales refused. He told Domenici he would fire Iglesias only on orders from the president.

At some point after the election last Nov. 6, Domenici called Bush's senior political adviser, Karl Rove, and told him he wanted Iglesias out and asked Rove to take his request directly to the president.

Domenici and Bush subsequently had a telephone conversation about the issue.

The conversation between Bush and Domenici occurred sometime after the election but before the firings of Iglesias and six other U.S. attorneys were announced on Dec. 7.

Iglesias' name first showed up on a Nov. 15 list of federal prosecutors who would be asked to resign. It was not on a similar list prepared in October.

The Journal confirmed the sequence of events through a variety of sources familiar with the firing of Iglesias, including sources close to Domenici. The senator's office declined comment.

Only after Domenici went directly to Bush, following Iglesias' unwillingness to cave to Domenici's "pressure" before Election Day, did Iglesias' name show up on an attorney firing squad list. TPM Muckraker, TPM, NM FBIHOP, and PW offer more insights. To quote TPM, "The timeline couldn't be more damning." And, of course, Domenici's office declined to comment. Because one of the last times Domenici opened his mouth, it didn't turn out so well. I think Domenici's going to make the Guru's list of Senators "who would be asked to resign." That sound is the clock ticking on any shred of credibility and integrity Pete Domenici has left.