Fired U.S. attorney on Rove, Gonzales

MATTHEWS:  You thought it was political interference in your job? 

IGLESIAS:  Yes. 

MATTHEWS:  Why?  What was it that made you think that? 

IGLESIAS:  Oh, because the timing of the call, right before the election; the questions he was asking me.  He didn’t have any business knowing about indictments that hadn’t been filed yet. 

MATTHEWS:  Who was behind him?  Who gave him his talking points?  Who goosed him into making that call to you, as you understand it? 

IGLESIAS:  That’s a great question.  It could have been local Republicans.  It could have been his chief of staff.  It could have been Karl Rove.  I mean, you know, we’re still at the beginning of this, Chris. 

MATTHEWS: Do you believe that the attorney general, who sits today, Alberto Gonzales, who you say, I think quite rightly, has come a long way in his life, and it’s a good American story, do you believe he’s a cipher or he is actually running the Justice Department politically?  He is the boss or is he simply a figurehead in a department where the president and Karl Rove are basically using that agency for their own purposes? 

IGLESIAS:  I used to think he was the bona fide leader of the Justice Department.  After watching his performance on the Hill last week, I’ve got real doubts and I think he may be a figurehead. 

MATTHEWS:  Therefore, who really calls the shots? 

IGLESIAS:  Great question.  Kyle Sampson doesn’t.  Perhaps White House counsel.  Perhaps Karl Rove.  I mean, it’s still early.  I can’t answer that question directly. 

MATTHEWS:  How did you get your job?  How did you get appointed by this system that seems to be working against you now? 

IGLESIAS:  It’s a political process.  I ran for office.  I did pretty well.  I made friends with Pete Domenici and interviewed and was one of four names sent up to the White House. 

MATTHEWS:  So you got a job through politics, but then you expected that, in your service, you would not be forced to act politically? 

IGLESIAS: Exactly, because of what John Ashcroft told every incoming attorney in 2001.  He said stay out of politics.  I took him at his word. 

MATTHEWS: Are you going to write a book? 

IGLESIAS:  I’m thinking very seriously about it. 

MATTHEWS:  Have you got a contract? 

IGLESIAS: No. 

MATTHEWS:  Have you got an agent? 

IGLESIAS:  I’ve got four agents in contact with me. 

MATTHEWS:  So you are hawking the book? 

IGLESIAS: Well, I’m trying to figure out…

MATTHEWS:  Have you written out a book proposal? 

IGLESIAS:  No, I haven’t done that yet. 

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