Paper: House Ethics Committee Kinda Sorta Investigating Pressure Call to USA

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Nearly five months after former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico David Iglesias publicly testified to Congress that he was pressured by Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) and Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) to bring indictments against a prominent state Democrat before the 2006 election, the House ethics committee is shuddering to life. Sort of.

Iglesias will be interviewed by House ethics Chairwoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) and ranking member Doc Hastings (R-WA) today*, according to The Albuquerque Tribune. But this isn’t yet an investigation, the paper cautions — just an interview which might lead to an investigation. Given that a committee investigation is a rare occurrence (far rarer, of course, than a criminal investigation of a member), watchdogs aren’t getting their hopes up. Says CREW’s Melanie Sloan, “I haven’t seen anything to indicate they’re going to do anything serious here.”

And there’s another reason for pessimism.* Hastings himself has been implicated in similar behavior, via his then-chief of staff. Former U.S. Attorney for John McKay testified in March that Hastings’ right-hand aide called him to inquire whether he’d be pursuing allegations of Democratic voter fraud in the 2004 election.

Truthout first reported Iglesias’ upcoming appearance Monday.

*Update: Hastings has recused himself and will be replaced by Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL). Also, the interview is tomorrow, not today.

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