David Iglesias, author

Ex-U.S. Attorney Iglesias' double duty: signing books, slamming fellow Republicans.

ALBUQUERQUE—Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias isn’t endorsing anyone in this year’s hot congressional races. But we know who he won’t be voting for.

"And that’s Heather Wilson," Iglesias said Monday, following a book signing in Albuquerque. "She’s not paid any consequence for her illicit phone call to me, and I hope the House of Represenatives takes this very seriously."

Iglesias, a Republican, was at an Albuquerque bookstore signing copies of "In Justice," his recently released account of last year’s Justice Department scandal that rocked the Bush Administration and made life mighty uncomfortable for a couple of members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation, including Republicans Rep. Heather Wilson and Sen. Pete Domenici.

The book hit the shelves this week, but don’t expect a good review from state Republican Party officials, who accuse Iglesias of pursuing personal ambitions over justice.

"Iglesias is free to peddle his book, but it belongs in the fiction section," said Adam Feldman, executive director of the Republican Party of New Mexico.

Wilson, R-NM, is hoping to win retiring Sen. Pete Domenici’s seat, but is locked in a tight primary race with Rep. Steve Pearce. It’s unclear whether the release of Iglesias’ book—just a couple of weeks before New Mexico’s primary elections—will hurt Wilson’s bid, but a retelling of this already familiar story can’t help.

Iglesias was one of several U.S. attorneys who got the ax last year for what Justice Department officials claimed was poor performance. The attorneys protested, saying their firings were politically motivated. Congressional hearings and a political firestorm ensued, as did the resignation of then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Domenici and Wilson have on numerous occasions disputed Iglesias’ accusations that they were inappropriately pressuring him when they phoned the federal prosecutor in 2006 and inquired about a public corruption case involving prominent New Mexico Democrats. Wilson said she was simply investigating a constituent’s concern that Iglesias was dragging his feet on the case, a claim she reiterated during a debate with Pearce a few weeks ago.

But at Monday’s book signing, Iglesias was unrelenting in his criticism.

"I mean, elected officials have no business, zero business, in attempting to influence the timing of indictments or finding out about the content of sealed indictments," he told several dozen people gathered at Bookworks in Albuquerque's North Valley.

And as you’ll see in the video above, Wilson wasn’t the only fellow Republican to receive harsh words. Iglesias laid into Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, who has publicly criticized Iglesias for not prosecuting alleged voter fraud cases.

White’s campaign had no comment Tuesday, but the state Republican Party did, releasing a statement that defends White’s position. White is the Republican front runner in the race for Wilson’s seat in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District. According to the state Republican Party's executive director Feldman:

 

"David Iglesias had what amounted to a signed confession from an ACORN employee who fraudulently registered a 13-year old boy and his 15-year old neighbor to vote, and he refused to prosecute. The operative actually signed her name to the fraudulent registration form, ACORN admitted she was fired for dishonest practices, and Iglesias still turned a blind-eye. Iglesias was far more concerned about his own political future and not ruffling any feathers than in pursuing justice.

print Share

Register or log in to rate