Domenici votes against no-confidence resolution

U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici rejected calls for his recusal and voted today against a resolution of no confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

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, the Democratic Party of New Mexico called Friday for him to recuse himself from today’s vote. That controversy, which includes the firing of former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias of New Mexico, was the primary reason Democrats sought passage of the resolution that would have increased pressure for Gonzales’ ouster.

Iglesias alleges that he was fired last year after Domenici and U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson called him in a month before the November 2006 election to pressure him to speed indictments in a public corruption probe in time to say voters.

Domenici had been expressing concern about Iglesias to the Bush Administration long before that, and Gonzales and others have said Domenici’s complaints were part of the reason for Iglesias’ firing.

Domenici and Wilson admit to calling Iglesias in October to inquire about the investigation but say they didn’t pressure him. Domenici is the subject of a Senate ethics probe, and has hired a high-profile attorney.

It’s possible that Domenici violated congressional ethics in calling Iglesias, and it’s true that Iglesias violated Department of Justice rules by not initially reporting the call. That, combined with the repeatedly changing stories about why Iglesias and others were fired that has come from the Bush Administration, has created a potential appearance of impropriety.

Though this wasn’t a clear-cut situation when Domenici needed to recuse himself, his decision to vote against the resolution has the potential to further the appearance of impropriety and is certain to earn him additional criticism.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., voted in favor of ending debate and proceeding to a final vote on the resolution.

Update, 5 p.m.

Domenici’s office released this statement:

“Senator Domenici voted against moving the no-confidence resolution forward,” it stated. “There is no precedent for this effort and there is no place for such parliamentary measures, like no-confidence votes, in our system of government.”

“Senator Domenici is anxious to work on the pressing issues begging the Senate’s time and consideration, such as the creation of new energy policies to reduce American dependence on foreign oil,” it stated. “He will help manage Senate debate on a new bipartisan energy bill this week that would help reach that goal. With all of the critical domestic policy issues facing the nation, Senator Domenici believes the Senate’s time would be better spent on developing good legislation than participating in meaningless partisan political endeavors.”