Prosecutor says ouster was politically based

updated 10:15 p.m. ET Feb. 28, 2007

WASHINGTON - New Mexico's outgoing U.S. attorney believes he was forced out of his job for political reasons after refusing pressure from two congressmen to push an indictment that might have helped Republicans in the 2006 election, according to published reports.

David Iglesias made the claim on his last day on the job in a report published Wednesday in McClatchy Newspapers and read on the Senate floor. He followed with a news conference in Albuquerque at which he strongly defended his record in office.

Iglesias said two members of Congress contacted him in the weeks prior to the 2006 election to ask about an ongoing investigation of a kickback scheme, appearing eager to see an indictment just before the elections.

Corruption charges against two previous state New Mexico treasurers — both Democrats — were prominent issues during the election, and further charges could have helped the Republicans.

Iglesias, a Republican, refused to name the members of Congress in the report because he feared retaliation, and declined comment when asked about the statement by The Associated Press.

"I've got nothing further to say about that," he said.

Surprising exit to job
Iglesias' claim was a bombshell that caught many in New Mexico and Washington by surprise.

Three members of the state's congressional delegation denied contacting Iglesias about the indictment — Democrats, Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Tom Udall, and Republican Rep. Steve Pearce.

Republicans, Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson, did not return repeated phone calls from The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said he spoke to Iglesias about the incident. Schumer's spokesman Eric Schultz said Iglesias did not name the two lawmakers whom he claims contacted him.

"These are extremely serious and very troubling allegations coming from a man of great integrity," Schumer said. "We will continue to pursue this until we get to the bottom of what happened and pass legislation to prevent it from ever happening again."

Iglesias is among eight federal prosecutors asked in recent weeks to resign. Critics have suggested that the removals were politically motivated and illustrate what they say is a flaw in the antiterror Patriot Act.

Senate Democrats want to eliminate a provision in the Patriot Act that gave the attorney general new power to replace fired U.S. attorneys indefinitely, avoiding the Senate confirmation process and allowing the president to appoint GOP allies.

Democrats seized on Iglesias' claim, saying they are moving to subpoena some of the U.S. attorneys to tell their stories publicly.

A House subcommittee will vote Thursday on subpoenas for Iglesias and three other former prosecutors. The Senate Judiciary Committee this week will send letters to those ousted asking for their voluntary testimony. Iglesias and others have said they would testify if they received a congressional subpoena.

At his news conference in Albuquerque, Iglesias did not mention his claim about the members of Congress.

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