Fired U.S. attorney on Rove, Gonzales

Chris Matthews Host of 'Hardball' • Profile

On Tuesday's Hardball, fired U.S. attorney David Iglesias told "Hardball" host Chris Matthews his complaint to the Office of Special Counsel may have resulted in starting the "ball rolling" into the current investigation of Karl Rove's activities.

"There may be other complainants that I’m not aware of," Iglesias said.  "But I believe my complaints are at least a partial basis for that."

Iglesias also went into his theories about his dismissal and shared his thoughts on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' recent testimony before Congress.

You can read a transcript of the conversation below or click on the video to the right to watch the interview.

CHRIS MATTHEWS:  On the phone right now is David Iglesias, who was fired from his post as a U.S. attorney in New Mexico. 

Mr. Iglesias, was your complaint to the Office of Special Counsel the reason for this investigation of Karl Rove? 

DAVID IGLESIAS, FIRED U.S. ATTORNEY: It—it—it could have started the ball rolling, yes.  This is something I filed back on April 3 of this year. 

MATTHEWS:  Well, April 3 is not that long ago. 

What—what, in terms of the timeline, leads you to believe that your - that your complaint led to this probe? 

IGLESIAS:  Well, based on Special Counsel having powers to investigate where the evidence goes. 

I actually filed a Hatch Act complaint against Gonzales, McNulty, Kyle Sampson, and Monica Goodling.  And I think OSC is already getting information, getting documents produced from the Justice Department and possibly from the White House already. 

MATTHEWS: The Hatch Act prevents public employees, government employees, from doing political work or being told to do political work. 

Who did such a thing that you noticed? 

IGLESIAS:  Well, that—and that’s why I authorized OSC to look into this. 

You know, we’re—we’re—as U.S. attorneys, we’re told to stay out of politics.  Every two years, we get the e-mails and whatnot.  And I believe the main reason I was forced to resign was for not getting involved in political activities, in activities that could have assisted a member of Congress. 

MATTHEWS: Was that to go after election fraud? 

IGLESIAS: Well, the election fraud was the initial problem, and then I think what broke the back, so to speak—the straw that broke the camel’s back was the non-rushing of politically sensitive corruption cases against Democrats in New Mexico. 

MATTHEWS:  And you felt you were operating on a good timetable?  You weren’t slowing anything down? 

IGLESIAS:  No.  I mean, in fact, the indictment got filed last month, when it was ready.  But it wasn’t ready last fall.  And I felt pressured to take action then. 

MATTHEWS:  Are you a Republican? 

IGLESIAS: Yes, I am. 

MATTHEWS:  Are you a partisan?  Did you vote for the president a couple of times?  He ran twice.  Did you vote for the guy who appointed you? 

IGLESIAS: Sure. 

MATTHEWS:  Do you root for the Republican side or do you have a problem with Karl Rove, in terms of his behavior as a political operative? 

IGLESIAS: Well, nobody broke the law. 

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