Democrats slam Domenici for Gonzales vote

As expected, the Democratic Party of New Mexico slammed U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici for voting on Monday against a resolution of no confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Domenici’s vote wasn’t critical, as the resolution failed when a motion to end debate and proceed to a vote received 53 votes, with 38 against it. It needed 60 to pass.

Citing Domenici’s involvement in the ongoing U.S. attorney controversy, Democrats had called for him to recuse himself. After the vote, Domenici said he voted against the resolution because there was no precedent for a no-confidence vote and he “is anxious to work on the pressing issues begging the Senate’s time and consideration” instead of “meaningless partisan political endeavors.”

The Democratic Party fired back.

“Today, Pete Domenici showed that he has no remorse for pressuring David Iglesias to bring politically-sensitive indictments days before an election,” the party stated in a news release.

“Pete Domenici clearly isn’t sorry for his role in this scandal and he’s deaf to our concerns about how the Department of Justice has handled it,” said Party Chair Brian Colón. “It’s no surprise that Domenici has full confidence in Bush’s Department of Justice – the Bush Administration has been as responsive to Domenici’s political needs as he is to theirs.”

“However,” Colón said, “Domenici had a clear conflict of interest and he never should have cast a vote today.”