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Wilson praises Domenici, gives no clues on her plans

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U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., who will likely consider running for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici, released a statement this evening calling the senator “a mentor and an inspiration.” Wilson gave no indication of whether she’ll run for the seat being vacated by Domenici, but it’s no secret that she has been the senator’s protégé for years. “I understand Senator Pete Domenici will make an important announcement tomorrow,” Wilson said in a statement released by her office. “Whatever his announcement, New Mexicans can be grateful for all our senator has done for our state and nation. He drove the Balanced Budget Act that led the country to balance the budget for the first time in thirty years in 1998, 1999 and 2000 – paying off $450 billion in publicly held debt. He was the engine behind the 2005 Energy Bill that is already helping America to be more energy independent. Continue Reading

Ethics probe, guv’s future keep Senate race uncertain

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The dynamics of the 2008 race for the Senate seat held by GOP giant Pete Domenici remain uncertain as an ethics probe heats up and Gov. Bill Richardson’s comments don’t entirely rule out his entrance into the race. The Senate ethics committee has stepped up its probe of Domenici’s involvement in the U.S. attorney scandal, Truthout.org is reporting. In the past two weeks, the committee has interviewed potential witnesses, including staffers from the U.S. attorney’s office in New Mexico, about Domenici’s October 2006 call to former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. Iglesias alleges Domenici pressured him 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. Continue Reading

Mississippi celebrating

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By Carter Bundy I’m not a statistician. I mean, I can do the math of how many more games the Sawx have to lose to complete one of the great collapses in baseball history, and understand the numbers that back up Derek Jeter as one of the great clutch hitters ever. But I need some help with these numbers: Thank God for Alaska? What are the odds that all three of New Mexico’s Republicans in Washington would end up on the list of the 22 most corrupt members of Congress? That’s a statistical freakshow. Continue Reading

Watchdog group lists Pearce, Domenici and Wilson among the 22 most corrupt members of Congress

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A Washington-based watchdog group released today its list of the 22 most corrupt members of the United States Congress. New Mexico’s three Republicans all made the list. It was no surprise to see U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson on the list, which was compiled by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The group filed formal complaints against Domenici and Wilson in March over their involvement in the U.S. attorney scandal. But the complaint against U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce involves allegations that have been previously unknown to the general public, and at least one of the allegations could be serious. Continue Reading

The likely loss of the Tribune marks a sad day

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By Whitney Cheshire The Albuquerque Tribune looks like it’s gone with the wind: Do we pop open the bubbly or draw the shades and stop the clocks? Yesterday, the Tribune announced that it will be shutting its doors unless an unexpected buyer shows up to purchase the Scripps-owned, afternoon news publication. The Tribune’s circulation has dropped to a tiny 11,000 and rumors of its slipping solvency have been bolstered by visible cutbacks on Web site coverage and the recent exit of longtime managing editor Kate Nelson. Some conservatives would like to throw a party. Seriously. Continue Reading

Protesters greet Bush at Domenici fundraiser in ABQ

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About 100 people protested today against President Bush and U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici about 300 feet from a home where Bush attended a fundraiser for the GOP senator who is up for re-election next year, the Associated Press is reporting. And Don Wiviott, one of three Democrats vying for the right to take on Domenici next year, took advantage of the event to attack Domenici for his votes on the Iraq war. Domenici has broken with Bush on Iraq policy – saying he wants a withdrawal of American troops to begin in the spring – but he doesn’t support Democratic proposals to bring troops home now or cut funding for the war. “Instead of standing up to George Bush, Pete Domenici has continued to vote with him 100 percent in support of the war, and it is no surprise the president is now rewarding him with a million-dollar fundraiser,” Wiviott said in a news release. “Saying one thing and doing another is apparently a hard habit to break in Washington, D.C. I’m running to change all that.” There is no immediate word on how much Domenici raised at the fundraiser, held this afternoon at the home of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Mayor Larry Abraham. Continue Reading

Domenici says Gonzales’ resignation was ‘inevitable’

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, whose popularity has taken a dip in recent months because of his role in the U.S. attorney scandal, released a statement today calling Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ resignation “inevitable.” “His situation was a distraction to the Department of Justice and its attempt to carry out its important duties,” the GOP senator said. “I look forward to reviewing the president’s nominee for attorney general carefully and objectively.” Both Domenici and U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., are subjects of preliminary inquiries that cold turn into full investigations because of their involvement in the U.S. attorney scandal. Both called former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias in October to inquire about a public corruption investigation that was rumored at the time to involve high-ranking Democrats and, earlier this year, led to the indictment of former Senate President Manny Aragon. Iglesias claims he refused pressure from the two to speed indictments in time to sway voters in November, when Wilson was up for re-election and in a tough contest. Two months later, he was fired without being given reason. Continue Reading

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigns

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Alberto Gonzales, who as U.S. attorney general was responsible for the controversial firings last year of eight U.S. attorneys and has been dogged by scandal for months, has resigned. The Department of Justice plans to make an official announcement at 8:30 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, the Associated Press is reporting, and President Bush is expected to comment on the resignation later today. The New York Times, which broke the story, reported that Gonzales submitted his resignation in a telephone conversation with the president on Friday. A series of scandals dogged the last few months of Gonzales’ tenure, but the chain of events that led to his resignation was set in motion by the December firings of the U.S. attorneys that included David Iglesias of New Mexico. Iglesias was the most outspoken of those who were fired and certainly had a hand in forcing Gonzales out. Continue Reading

U.S. attorney controversy flares up again

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The controversy surrounding the firings of several former U.S. attorneys, including David Iglesias of New Mexico, has flared up again this week with a possible perjury probe against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and a subpoena for White House Political Director Karl Rove. Gonzales’ job once again appears in jeopardy after he testified before a Congressional panel on Wednesday. Four Democratic senators wrote the U.S. solicitor general today asking for the appointment of an independent council to investigate the truthfulness of Gonzales’ sworn testimony about the U.S. attorney controversy and President Bush’s warrantless domestic spying program, the Associated Press is reporting. Gonzales’ previous testimony in the U.S. attorney controversy contradicted that of employees who work below him. And the FBI director became today the newest official to contradict testimony Gonzales gave Wednesday about the spying program. Continue Reading

Democrats slam Domenici for Gonzales vote

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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. Continue Reading

Domenici votes against no-confidence resolution

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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. Continue Reading

Domenici pressured to skip AG no-confidence vote

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Democrats in the U.S. Senate have scheduled later today a vote of no confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, forcing their GOP colleagues into a tough position – perhaps none more difficult than that of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico. With a number of GOP congressmen already calling for Gonzales’ resignation, do Republicans vote for the resolution, or do they side with the president? Should Domenici even cast a vote? Brian Colón, chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, called late Friday for Domenici to recuse himself from the vote. In a news release, the party cited “Domenici’s central role in the U.S. attorney scandal that has sparked calls for the resignation of” Gonzales. Continue Reading

Support for Domenici drops once again

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici’s approval rating has fallen once again. The most recent SurveyUSA poll, conducted May 11-13, found that 52 percent of New Mexicans approve and 42 percent disapprove of the job the republican is doing. It’s the lowest approval rating for the senator since at least May 2005. The survey of 600 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percent. By comparison, those surveyed gave U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., a 63 percent approval rating. Continue Reading

Former DOJ official testifies on U.S. attorney firings

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Former Department of Justice staffer Monica Goodling, who was involved in the firings of eight former U.S. attorneys last year, shed no new light on why David Iglesias and others were ousted, but made a number of tantalizing statements that are sure to ramp up the controversy. Goodling, who was granted immunity in exchange for her testimony after she originally refused to appear before a House Judiciary subcommittee because she didn’t want to incriminate herself, said she had limited involvement in the firings and could shed little light on why the attorneys were fired, according to the Associated Press. She did, however, tell the committee that Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty knew more than he told Congress about the extent of White House involvement in the firings, and said he falsely accused her of withholding details from him before he gave incorrect testimony before Congress several weeks ago. “I believe the deputy was not fully candid,” Goodling said, according to the news service. “… I didn’t withhold information from the deputy.” McNulty disputed that. Continue Reading

Former U.S. Attorney Kelly might take on Domenici

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I’ve written a lot lately about the Democratic Party’s inability to find a well-known candidate to take on U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici next year. The Albuquerque Tribune has the goods on one candidate who might jump into the race. John Kelly, who was the state’s U.S. attorney under former President Clinton, said he’s considering the race. “I do feel obligated to consider it and I am going to look seriously at it,” he told the Tribune. That could make things interesting. Continue Reading