U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici wants to use campaign funds to pay legal bills stemming from an inquiry into his October 2006 phone call to former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, and he’s asked the Federal Election Commission for an opinion on whether he can do that.
According to an article published on The Politico’s Web site, attorneys for Domenici’s campaign have formally sought an advisory opinion from the FEC. The ethics inquiry into Domenici’s actions came after Iglesias alleged earlier this year that the senator pressured him during the October 2006 phone call to speed indictments in a case involving high-ranking Democrats to sway voters in the November 2006 election.
Iglesias was fired weeks later, he claims as a result of refusing the pressure.
Domenici admits the call but insists he didn’t pressure Iglesias. Though there were reports that the inquiry was dropped shortly after Domenici announced in October of this year that he won’t seek re-election next year, Domenici’s office indicated to The Politico that the inquiry has not formally ended.
Domenici’s office did not respond to a request from The Politico for how much he has spent on attorney fees, but the senator hired a well-known
Domenici’s office released this statement to The Politico:
“Senator Domenici’s campaign committee, like the committees of many other members of Congress, has sought guidance from the FEC as to whether he may use campaign funds to satisfy the fees and expenses of the attorneys who are representing him in connection with the preliminary inquiry that the Senate Ethics Committee commenced in March,” the statement read.
“The Senator has also asked for guidance regarding whether he can use those campaign funds to pay the legal fees of staff who have been unfortunately drawn into this inquiry. The FEC and the Senate Ethics Committee have previously authorized members of Congress to pay legal fees in this manner, and we expect the senator’s campaign committee to receive approval to do so in this instance,” the statement read. “As he has stated in the past, out of respect for his colleagues on the Senate Ethics Committee, Senator Domenici will not comment on the committee’s inquiry until it is officially closed.”