David Iglesias: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Iglesias testified before Congress in March 2007, stating that Sen. [[Pete Domenici]] (R-N.M.) and Rep. [[Heather Wilson]] (R-N.M.) called and urged him to rush indictments against Aragon prior to the November 2006 election.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090827070123/http://www.bernco.gov/upload/images/clerk/past_elections/pr_062004.html]</ref> In October 2006, when Sen. [[Domenici]] called to ask about the progress of an investigation, New Mexico U.S. Attorney Iglesias said he felt this inquiry was trying to "pressure" him to speed up indictments in a federal corruption investigation that involved Aragon. When Iglesias said he didn't think an indictment would be issued before November, "the line went dead." Earlier in October, Rep. Wilson also called about the indictments in the same investigation.<ref>Taylor, Marisa. [http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/16813951.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_nation '"Sources: GOP lawmakers tried to influence federal investigation"] - [[McClatchy Newspapers]] - March 1, 2007</ref> One month after the election, Iglesias was fired by the Bush Administration, and his firing was central to the [[Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy|dismissal of U.S. Attorneys controversy]]. [[Larry Gomez]], who had been Iglesias' assistant, took over as acting U.S. Attorney,<ref>[http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/Mar/02/iglesias-ill-name-names/ "Iglesias: I'll name names"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313001752/http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/mar/02/iglesias-ill-name-names/ |date=2007-03-13 }} [[Albuquerque Tribune]] - February 28, 2007</ref> but never received a presidential appointment to the post.

One of the stated reasons for Iglesias' dismissal was dissatisfaction in his prosecution of voter-fraud cases. Nevertheless, Iglesias "had been heralded for his expertise in that area by the Justice Department, which twice selected him to train other federal prosecutors to pursue election crimes" and was "one of two chief federal prosecutors invited to teach at a 'voting integrity symposium' in October 2005… sponsored by Justice's public integrity and civil rights sections."<ref>Goldstein, Amy. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-yn/content/article/2007/03/18/AR2007031801077.html "Justice Dept. Recognized Prosecutor's Work on Election Fraud Before His Firing"]{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} - ''[[The Washington Post]]'' - page=A04 - March 19, 2007</ref> The Justice Department said that part of the reason for Iglesias's dismissal was because of his frequent absences. In response to this charge, Iglesias stated that the reason for these absences was his mandatory service as part of the Naval Reserve.<ref>Eggen, Dan. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/28/AR2007022801502.html "Fired U.S. Attorney Says Lawmakers Pressured Him"] - ''The Washington Post'' - page. A10 - March 1, 2007</ref> That would have constituted a possible violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act ([[USERRA]]).

==Dismissal Aftermath==