Yep, looks like there’s nothing to this US Attorney firing thing.
Paul Kiel told you yesterday about New Mexico US Attorney David Iglesias who said his firing was a “political fragging” and that he was holding a press conference today.
Here’s McClatchy just out on some of what he just told them …
The U.S. attorney from New Mexico who was recently fired by the Bush administration said Wednesday that he believes he was forced out because he refused to rush an indictment in an ongoing probe of local Democrats a month before November’s Congressional elections.
David Iglesias said two members of Congress separately called in mid October to inquire about the timing of an ongoing probe of a kickback scheme and appeared eager for an indictment to be issued on the eve of the elections in order to benefit the Republicans. He refused to name the members of Congress because he said he feared retaliation.
Two months later, on Dec. 7, Iglesias became one of six U.S. attorneys ordered to step down for what administration officials have termed “performance-related issues.” Two other U.S. attorneys also have been asked to resign.
Iglesias, who received a positive performance review before he was fired, said he suspected he was forced out because of his refusal to be pressured to hand down an indictment in the ongoing probe.
“I believe that because I didn’t play ball, so to speak, I was asked to resign,” said Iglesias, who officially stepped down Wednesday.
You still think Carol Lam wasn’t fired because she pushed the Duke-Wilkes-Foggo probe too far?
Update: So who were those two members of Congress? We’re trying to find out.
Later Update: Already got our first answer. Check here for more updates.
