Your search for david iglesias returned 114 results

Domenici’s approval rating takes a hit in new poll

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A new poll shows that the U.S. attorney scandal has dented the popularity of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. The SurveyUSA poll, released Wednesday, finds approval of the job Domenici is doing at 57 percent and disapproval at 35 percent – the lowest totals since at least May 2005. The survey, which has a margin of error of four percent, was conducted March 12. The previous poll, conducted Feb. 12, found Domenici’s approval rating at 64 percent, with disapproval at 27 percent. In between the polls, former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias accused Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., of trying to pressure him to speed indictments in a public corruption probe in time to sway voters in the November 2006 election. Continue Reading

Committee approves subpoenas for Rove, others

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A House subcommittee has authorized subpoenas for Karl Rove and others in its investigation into the firing of eight former U.S. attorneys, setting the stage for a showdown with the Bush Administration. Testimony would likely shed light on the decision late in the process to add former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias of New Mexico to the hit list – a move that was made shortly after Iglesias received calls from U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson and Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. about a pending investigation in October 2006. The House Judiciary Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee voted today to authorize the issuance of subpoenas for Rove, Harriet Miers and other White House and Justice Department staffers. The move follows what has been a continually shifting set of explanations for the dismissals provided by the White House and Justice Department, which has led to rampant speculation that the firings were politically motivated. President Bush has promised to fight the subpoenas, saying he doesn’t want his aides to be afraid to give him advice because they might be called to testify about it. Continue Reading

20 months before election, Democrats attack Wilson

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With almost 20 months before the November 2008 general election, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began running radio advertisements in the Albuquerque market today attacking U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M. The 60-second radio spot focuses on Wilson’s call to former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias in October 2006, and is the first in the 2008 1st Congressional District race, for which the Democrats don’t yet have a candidate. “October 2006. A phone call is made. A scandal begins,” the ad starts. It goes on to include Iglesias’ testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, in which he claimed, under oath, that Wilson inquired about whether there were any sealed indictments in an ongoing investigation into kickbacks related to the awarding of contracts for the construction of government buildings in Bernalillo County. Continue Reading

Informal poll: Domenici, Wilson acted unethically

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson acted unethically during phone calls to former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias last year. Of 220 voters, 174, or 79 percent, said the two members of Congress acted unethically, while 40, or 18, percent, said they did not. Six voters, or 3 percent, said they don’t know. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Bush defends Gonzales, but says he’s ‘not happy’

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President George W. Bush says he is troubled that the Justice Department misled Congress on why it fired eight U.S. attorneys, but defended Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and said he will fix mistakes. “Mistakes were made, and I’m frankly not happy about them,” Bush told reporters at a news conference in Mexico, where he is visiting. “Any time anybody goes up to Capitol Hill, they’ve got to make sure they fully understand the facts and how they characterize the issue to members of Congress. And the fact that both Republicans and Democrats feel like there was not straightforward communication troubles me.” Bush also pointed out that Gonzales has apologized and taken responsibility for making mistakes. Gonzales has also refused calls for his resignation. Continue Reading

Scandal injects uncertainty into New Mexico politics

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At this point, it’s difficult to size up the impact of the scandal surrounding phone calls Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson made to former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, but that uncertainty, because of what’s at stake, has been enough to rock New Mexico politics. The scandal has the potential to set off a domino effect in which a number of state and local officials make runs at higher offices. Then again, it’s possible that nothing will happen. If you need a quick refresher on what’s been going on, click here. For the newest on the national implications, click here. Continue Reading

Chávez says Wilson won’t win another N.M. election

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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez says U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., won’t win another election in New Mexico. His comments come in response to the growing scandal over allegations that Wilson and Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., pressured former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to speed indictments in a public corruption scandal in time to sway voters in the November 2006 election. Chávez was quoted today by Congressional Quarterly, which is read by members of Congress and politicos in the nation’s capital and beyond, on the impact the scandal will have on Wilson’s career. “Heather Wilson will no longer be elected in New Mexico,” he said, adding that her actions were “reprehensible.” I was also interviewed for and quoted in the article. Chávez is a prominent Democrat who is currently raising money for a potential 2010 gubernatorial run against Lt. Gov. Diane Denish. Continue Reading

The gloves are off: Domenici attacked by colleagues

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There was a sense of solemnity on Tuesday when members of the Senate Judiciary Committee discussed allegations that a colleague, Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., may have violated ethical rules by pressuring a prosecutor to speed a public corruption probe. That mood appears to be gone. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. and the chair of Tuesday’s hearing, made reference at the meeting to the fact that some of the issues would be difficult to discuss because they involved Domenici. He and the others pushed David Iglesias, the former U.S. attorney for New Mexico, to fully disclose the details of his conversation with Domenici, but they did so delicately. Today, however, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which is chaired by Schumer, sent out a news release pointing to what could be interpreted as inconsistencies in Domenici’s statements about the matter and calling into question his honesty. Continue Reading

House panel begins hearing on fired U.S. attorneys

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The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law is about to begin its hearings on the fired U.S. attorneys. You can watch live by clicking here. I’m not going to post updates on this hearing as frequently as I did during the Senate hearing, but will report any new information and specifics about testimony provided by David Iglesias, the former U.S. attorney for New Mexico. Scroll down to read about this mornings’ Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Update, 12:45 p.m. The House subcommittee hearing is on a bill that would repeal a provision of the Patriot Act that wasn’t known by most until the U.S. attorney scandal erupted. Continue Reading

Committee holds hearing on fired U.S. attorneys

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I began coverage at 8 a.m. of this hearing, and updated the posting frequently as the hearing progressed. Below is a fairly chronological account of what happened. I’ll also be covering a House subcommittee hearing later today and will have analysis of the situation this evening or tomorrow morning. The Senate Judiciary Committee is about to begin its hearing on the Bush Administration’s firing of eight U.S. attorneys, including the former head of the New Mexico office, David Iglesias. You’ll be able to watch it live on C-SPAN 3 by clicking here. Continue Reading

U.S. attorney scandal continues to spread as watchdog group files complaint against Domenici

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A day after Sen. Pete Domenici apologized for calling former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias last fall to inquire about an ongoing investigation, the scandal continues to spread, both for the senator and the Bush Administration. A watchdog group is urging a Senate committee to investigate whether Domenici violated Congressional ethics. The Bush Administration is trying to explain the resignation of the director of the office of U.S. attorneys in the Justice Department. And two House members leading the investigation in that chamber of Congress have stepped up their rhetoric and issued new subpoenas. Meanwhile, the Justice Department confirmed today at least some of what Domenici said on Sunday: that the senator called four times in 2005 and 2006 to complain about Iglesias. Continue Reading

Domenici admits call but says there was no pressure

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici has admitted calling former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias “late last year” to ask about the status of a pending public corruption probe, but said he did not pressure him to speed indictments. Domenici released the statement after several days of refusing to comment on Iglesias’ allegations that two members of Congress called him shortly before the November 2006 election and tried to pressure him to speed indictments in order to sway voters. The case involves an alleged kickback scheme related to the construction of government buildings in Bernalillo County, and could implicate some high-level Democrats. “My call had been preceded by months of extensive media reports about acknowledged investigations into courthouse construction, including public comments from the FBI that it had completed its work months earlier, and a growing number of inquiries from constituents,” Domenici said. “I asked Mr. Iglesias if he could tell me what was going on in that investigation and give me an idea of what timeframe we were looking at. Continue Reading

Madrid says Domenici and Wilson may have also interfered in probe of state treasurer scandal

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October 2006 was a rough month for U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M. The situation was becoming desperate in her re-election campaign against Democratic challenger Patricia Madrid, at the time the state’s attorney general. Following Madrid’s gains in the polls throughout September, on Oct. 4 the first of three polls by national companies found that Madrid had taken the lead in the race. The third came out on Oct. 17. Continue Reading

Subpoenas issued in U.S. attorney investigation as Domenici and Wilson continue to dodge questions

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., are still refusing to talk about whether they had a hand in forcing out former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, even as a House subcommittee is issuing subpoenas in an attempt to find the truth. Meanwhile, the spokesman for a congresswoman leading the House investigation says any House members who pressured Iglesias to issue indictments in a public corruption scandal in order to affect the November 2006 elections might have committed ethics violations. Iglesias claims he was forced from his job by the Bush Administration because he refused pressure in October from two members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation to speed indictments in an ongoing investigation of alleged kickbacks related to the construction of government buildings in Bernalillo County. Though he has refused to name the members, three of the five – Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Tom Udall and Republican Rep. Steve Pearce – were quick on Wednesday to say they didn’t do it. Domenici and Wilson, on the other hand, aren’t talking. Continue Reading