Former Top Justice Official to Contradict Gonzales Statements
It's unclear how much Sampson's testimony will threaten Gonzales's tenure as the attorney general. But at the end of the day, even if Democrats on Capitol Hill don't reel in the big fish–such as Gonzales or Rove–as the source close to Sampson puts it, they certainly will have a few smaller sardines to chew on, some quite unpalatable for their Republican counterparts. One in particular: Sen. Pete Domenici, a Republican from New Mexico.
At issue is whether Domenici called Gonzales to try to get David Iglesias, the U.S. attorney in his home state, removed because of his perceived slowness in pursuing a corruption case of alleged kickbacks in public construction projects involving some prominent Democrats. Iglesias has said that in addition to Domenici, Republican Rep. Heather Wilson of New Mexico called him twice before the November elections to get an update on the case and that Domenici even called him once at home. "I felt leaned on," Iglesias testified at a Senate hearing this month. "I felt pressured to get these matters moving." Domenici has apologized for the calls. Both he and Wilson have denied any intent to pressure Iglesias. Domenici issued a statement that "at no time in that conversation or any other conversation" with Iglesias "did I ever tell him what course of action I thought he should take on any legal matter." Domenici added that he had "never pressured" Iglesias, "nor threatened him in any way." In fact, prior to Domenici's complaints to Gonzales, Rove, and their aides, Sampson had recommended keeping Iglesias on as U.S. attorney last March. Among the treasure-trove of E-mails released by the Justice Department is one from spokesman Brian Roehrkasse to Sampson, McNulty, Moschella, and others indicating that he had given reporters "verbal comments in line with the facts below": that Domenici had called Gonzales three times, in September 2005, and January and April of 2006, expressing "general concerns" about Iglesias's performance and whether he was "up to the job"; that Domenici also placed a "very brief call" in the first week of October 2006 to McNulty about Iglesias's performance; and that Roehrkasse had told reporters that "at no time in these calls" did Domenici "mention the public corruption case."
Sampson is sure to be asked about what exactly Domenici said to Gonzales during those phone calls. His answers could not only challenge Gonzales's assertion that no politics were involved in these firings but also force Congress to look through the looking glass and trigger a tawdry sequel to what's already proved to be a most entertaining Alice in Wonderland tale.
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