Washington, D.C.
One of seven U.S. attorneys fired last December by the Justice Department said this week that he had been pressured by New Mexico Republican Sen. Pete Domenici to indict prominent Democrats before the November elections. David Iglesias, who was removed as U.S. attorney for New Mexico, told a Senate hearing he felt “leaned on” and “sickened” after both Domenici and New Mexico Republican Rep. Heather Wilson telephoned him to inquire if he planned to indict officials of New Mexico’s Democratic Party over an alleged kickback scheme. Wilson at the time was in a tight congressional contest. Domenici and Wilson say they were merely trying to stay informed. Democrats have complained that the dismissals were intended to squelch corruption investigations or replace independent-minded prosecutors. The Justice Department says the firings were all performance-based.
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