Domenici Probably Won't Face Disciplinary Action

March 07, 2007 01:10 PM ET | Permanent Link | Print

The U.S. News Political Bulletin has a roundup of coverage of yesterday's testimony by six former U.S. attorneys, who reported feeling pressure from high-ranking officials to pursue or abandon investigations. Read quotes from the hearing.

Sen. Pete Domenici, a New Mexico Republican, has been the subject of much of the scrutiny after he admitted to having contacted the then New Mexico chief federal prosecutor, David Iglesias, about an ongoing corruption probe of Democratic officials. While Domenici, a career lawyer, has to worry about possible political damage--he's up for reelection in 2008--legal ethics experts tell News Desk that he probably doesn't need to worry about disciplinary action.

"I would strongly doubt that any disciplinary authority would touch this with a 10-foot pole unless you had clear evidence that he crossed the line," says Leonard Gross of the Southern Illinois University Law School.

The potential violation, he said, is known as "conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice," but it's a fairly murky standard.

The liberal blog Talking Points Memo continues to doggedly pursue the story as well.

U.S. News's Silla Brush will have a full story from the hearing later today.

Pictured: From left to right, Carol Lam, David Iglesias, Daniel Bogden, Paul Charlton, H.E. "Bud" Cummins and John McKay. Jim Lo Scalzo for USN&WR

Tools: Share | | Comments (0) | Print