Fired U.S. attorney on Rove, Gonzales

IGLESIAS:  Yes.  I had a conversation with Mr. Bloch and his deputy and two other attorneys approximately three weeks ago. 

MATTHEWS: Did that lead you to believe they were going to act like they have? 

IGLESIAS:  Yes.  Yes, it did. 

MATTHEWS:  So you believe affirmatively that your complaint to the Office of Special Counsel in the Justice Department led to this probe, which we’re reading about today in the “L.A. Times,” the Associated Press and here on NBC? 

IGLESIAS:  I do.  There may be other complainants that I’m not aware of.  But I believe my complaints are at least a partial basis for that. 

MATTHEWS:  You know the law better than I, sir.  Mr. Iglesias, can the Office of Special Counsel prosecute or must it refer? 

IGLESIAS: They don’t have criminal jurisdiction.  But they have civil enforcement powers.  That means they can force the agencies to do specific acts, like reinstating people, like awarding back pay, things of that nature. 

MATTHEWS:  Can they subpoena Karl Rove to get the information or do they have to let somebody else do it? 

IGLESIAS:  Oh, no.  They have powers to subpoena any member of the executive branch except the president and vice president. 

MATTHEWS:  Have they used that? 

IGLESIAS:  That’s a great question.  I don’t know the history of the special counsel as much as I should.  But they do have…

MATTHEWS: Why did you go to them if you thought they might be feeble? 

You must have some confidence that going to them would get you some justice here, as you see it. 

IGLESIAS:  Because their entire mission is to bring enforcement actions against the executive branch of the federal government.  Also, their deputy is a military reservist, and I’ve got a lot of faith and confidence in him and in Mr. Bloch. 

MATTHEWS:  What do you think of Gonzales? 

IGLESIAS:  Well, I think, you know—that’s a large question.  You mean in terms of his testimony or personally? 

MATTHEWS:  What do you think of him? 

IGLESIAS: I think he’s come a long ways, inspiring story, but did terribly when he testified last week. 

MATTHEWS:  Do you think he knew about your firing? 

IGLESIAS: Oh, I’m sure he had to have.  You don’t get rid of …

MATTHEWS:  OK, here is the key bureaucratic question, which I’ve been trying to get to—I don’t know the particulars of your case.  I know what you’ve told me.  I know about Pete Domenici, someone I’ve always respected. 

When Pete Domenici called you up, do you think you were being pressured? 

IGLESIAS:  Yes. 

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