SENATOR PETE DOMENICI ADMITS HE'S A LYING SACK OF CRAP WITH NO ETHICS

Well it didn't take long for New Mexico Republican Pete Domenici to fess up and admit he was one of the two members of Congress to call fired U.S. Attorney David Igelsias. Today's Washington Post carries a piece by Dan Eggen with the first baby steps towards Domenici coming to grips with his criminal behavior.

Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) acknowledged today that he contacted the U.S. attorney in Albuquerque last fall to inquire about the status of an ongoing corruption probe of Democrats, saying he regretted the call but "never pressured him nor threatened him in any way."

Domenici also said he had told the Justice Department that U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias should be replaced, but said that occurred prior to the call about the criminal investigation of Democrats.

After first trying to stonewall and hoping the press would just drop the whole matter, Domenici then called Igesias a liar and said he was making the whole thing up. Now he's admitting partial culpability. And whining that he "regrets" making the call and apologizes. I'm sure Domenici regrets being caught and called out. But it's too late; Iglesias has been unjustly fired and Domenici is in breach of-- at minimum-- very serious ethics violations. Domenici is still claiming he didn't "pressure" Igelsias, disputing Iglesias' statements. Iglesias has been honest throughout this whole thing and Domenici hasn't told the truth in one single instance. Everything he has said has been a liar or a half truth meant to mislead. "Iglesias declined to comment in detail on Domenici's statement, saying he was honoring a request by congressional staffers to refrain from public remarks prior to congressional hearings on Tuesday."

Heather Wilson, the other Republican crook who pulled this crap on Iglesias, is still holed up somewhere and refusing to speak with reporters. Congress is launching a probe into the whole incident that will hopefully lead to the impeachment of Bush's crooked and disgraceful Attorney General. As Eggen points out, "A communication by a senator or House member with a federal prosecutor regarding an ongoing criminal investigation is a violation of ethics rules, experts say. The prosecutor firings, which already had become a major controversy in Congress, has boiled over as the result of Iglesias's allegations of political interference. Iglesias and five other former U.S. attorneys are scheduled to testify about their dismissals Tuesday. White House and Justice Department officials acknowledged Friday that the White House had approved of the unusual firings, in which seven of the prosecutors were called on Dec. 7 and asked to resign, even though most had positive job reviews. An eighth prosecutor was told earlier he was fired in order to make room for a former aide to presidential adviser Karl Rove."

Domenici's role is this whole thing is so outrageous that if he had a shred of dignity he would have resigned last week. Hopefully New Mexico voters will deal appropriately with him and with Wilson next year when they are both up for re-evaluation by their employers, the voters.