Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias came roaring back into the news today when Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed a special prosecutor to look into the controversial firings of U.S. attorneys, including Iglesias.

 

The AG also issued a nearly 400-page report detailing the firings. The Iglesias dimissal, in late 2006, was most troubling, the AG said. 

 

The report contains an entire chapter on the Iglesias saga, starting on page 149. [ download pdf here : NOTE that physical page 149 — Chapter 6  —  is page 166 in the pdf ] The document notes that Sen. Pete Domenici, and his chief-of-staff, Steve Bell, refused to answer investigators' questions about their role in Iglesias' dismissal. Domenici offered written responses to questions through his attorney, but the Justice Department declined.

 

Wilson did answer questions, the report says. Iglesias has accused Domenici and Wilson, New Mexico Republicans, of trying to improperly influence his investigation of corruption in New Mexico. 

Here is the relevant passage regarding Domenici's and Wilson's level of cooperation with investigators:

 "In addition, Senator Domenici and his Chief of Staff, Steve Bell, also declined to be interviewed by us. Domenici initially told us through his counsel that he would be "pleased to assist" our investigation once a pending Senate Ethics Committee investigation of his phone call to Iglesias was completed. We renewed our requests for interviews after the Senate ethics inquiry was concluded. Bell continued to decline to be interviewed. Domenici also declined to be interviewed, but said he would provide written answers to questions through his attorney. We declined this offer because we did not believe it would be a reliable or appropriate investigative method under these circumstances. In contrast, Representative Wilson cooperated with our investigation and was interviewed by us three separate times..." 

I'll be combing through the report and contacting key players - most notably Rep. Heather Wilson and Sen. Pete Domenici - for comment today.

Here's a link to Mukasey's statement and report (scroll down past Mukasey's statement for the Justice Department PDF. (http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/September/08-opa-859.html)