Domenici: I Want My Involvement In The Attorney Scandal To Be Over
Domenici: I Want My Involvement In The Attorney Scandal To Be Over
On MSNBC earlier today, correspondent Andrea Mitchell asked Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) about “the controvesy over the firing of the U.S. attorneys, in particular David Iglesias,” who the senator infamously called soon before he was asked to resign. “Would you testify if called by your colleagues on the Judiciary Committee?” Mitchell asked.
“I wouldn’t testify unless I am supposed to under our rules or unless I have to,” replied Domenici. “From my standpoint, I’m not going to talk about it because I want mine over with, if six senators can pass on it.”
“It has little or nothing to do with this case,” added Domenici, in reference to the President’s invocation of executive privilege yesterday to prevent his aides from testifying before Congress about the scandal. Watch it:
As much as Domenici may want to believe that he “has little or nothing to do” with the attorney scandal, in reality, he is central to it.
Iglesias’ name did not appear on the Bush administration’s prosecutor hit list until Domenici talked to President Bush in a call presumably arranged by Karl Rove. Additionally, one of the aides whose testimony Bush is blocking, Harriet Miers, is also implicated in firing Iglesias at Domenici’s behest.
On December 7, 2006, the day the attorneys were fired, Miers’s deputy, William Kelley, wrote an email to Kyle Sampson, former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, saying that Domenici’s chief of staff “is happy as a clam” about Iglesias being removed.
UPDATE: Emptywheel has more here.
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35 Responses to “Domenici: I Want My Involvement In The Attorney Scandal To Be Over”
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He's in it Up to his ill fitting toupee. Or is it Tupe?
July 10th, 2007 at 3:18 pmSorry Dom, you're going to have to come clean. Use a better grade of bullshite.
Imagine when we finally get around to having legitimate truth and reconciliation hearings in this country to figure out what actually happened during the years of Bush rule.
We are gonna hang us some GOPers!
July 10th, 2007 at 3:18 pmWas this a clip from a MSNBC interview or a Police dash-cam?
July 10th, 2007 at 3:20 pmI thought that the Senate was working on a censure of Domenici for what he did. It was totally in violation of the Senate and Congress rules to do what he did.
Of course he wants to be done with it. This scandal is probably going to cause him to be out of a job in 2008. That's why he took a stand against Bush on Iraq, desperate hopes that he can salvage his career.
Don't think so...
July 10th, 2007 at 3:20 pmDomenici must resign for his involvement in this scandal or release his name as hiring hookers like Sen. Vitter did to force him out.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:21 pmI've decided that these clowns really do believe their own lies. They have come to see themselves as infallible, not subject to the rules and laws the rest of us follow. Even the laws of nature, so they deny the reality of global warming. If not, then the inmates are in charge of the asylum.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:24 pmAnother Republican jump out of the burning aircraft.....
July 10th, 2007 at 3:26 pmPete, go fetal.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:29 pmHEyOOOoo0OOOOooOO000OOooOOOOOO00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 10th, 2007 at 3:36 pmwtf prez? forget your meds again?
July 10th, 2007 at 3:38 pmHEyOOOoo0OOOOooOO000OOooOOOOOO00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Mr. President — July 10, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Once again, Mr Pee presents the most cogent and articulate argument possible for the Right.
Thanks for that input, Mr. Pee.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:40 pmThe BTK killer feels the same way about all thsoe messy homicides. Let's not bicker and quarrel about 'oo killed 'oo. This is sposed to a 'appy occasion.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:41 pmDomenici's central to this cauldron of deceit and he knows it. That's why he's attempting to trivialize the role he played which might bring along with it some criminal charges....Sure, he'd like it to be over for him! Wouldn't anyone who's as complicit as the day is long?
Maybe when he becomes front page news, he will get to see himself and how ridiculous his cheap toupee looks on his corrupt little head? Hope so.
As I've always said....any man who wears a toupee to hide whom he really is, is probably hiding much much more under that cheap rug of his.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:42 pmI want our nation's continued ignominious descent into fascism to be over too, Domenici.
A wise man once said: You can't always get what you want.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:42 pmNot so fast, Petey boy! This case is ABOUT YOU! You're the lynchpin in it all and, sorry to say, it's not going to be going away for you any time soon.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:43 pmTripMaster: Wasn't that Mic Jagger? I love it!
July 10th, 2007 at 3:46 pmMaybe Peteyboy should have thought these same thoughts before he decided to use heavy handed, highly illegal tactics and abuse his power?
July 10th, 2007 at 3:47 pmThe prisoners in GetMo and AbuGraib are saying the same thing, Petey - They wish it would be over, too.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:47 pmI think the trollprez has gone postal! Knew it wouldn't be long before he had a total meltdown. Fetal position all the way.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:49 pmMany people facing the wrath of a federal investigation and possible indictment "just want to be done with it." So? Last spring, Domenici lawyered up - big time. He put high-octane Washington lawyer Lee Blalack on retainer. Blalack is not someone you hire over something so trivial as retaining a senate seat. Blalack is who you hire if you have skeletons rattling about in your closet that could send your ass to the slammer.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:49 pmYeah I bet he wants this to disappear. He is CENTRAL to the USAttorney's scandal! What a monumental scumbag this guy is. They are all utter morons, how do they get elected?? I'm flabbergasted they even have jobs. They are ruining our country with their OBSTRUCTIONISM in the Senate that is wiping us out on so many fronts. Impeach Gonzales then move on up the chain and nail EVERYONE of these criminal Republicans. They are stopping the Congress, it isn't some Democrat weakness!These Rethugs use every dirty trick in the book to stall ANY positive action on the Hill and then if some decent legislation DOES get through, the moron President vetos it! We are killing people, going broke and have over a year left of this fool in office. We have to pressure these Rethugs in Congress to stop blocking everything brought forward with filibusters and secret motions.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:51 pmThey are at this moment fighting AGAINST soldiers getting their leave! They don't care about our men over there, they are doing back to back to back redeployments! How dare these Rethugs claim to support our troops then they do all they can legislatively to HURT our troops! We have to get them OUT of these jobs on the Hill!
Blalack is not someone you hire over something so trivial as retaining a senate seat. Blalack is who you hire if you have skeletons rattling about in your closet that could send your ass to the slammer.
Comment by --Blue Girl — July 10, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
Blue Girl: So his attempts to trivialize it ARE pure BS since he's lawyered up with a pro? Even Blalack won't get these skeletons to stop rumbling in Domenici's closet. Domenici's "toast".
July 10th, 2007 at 3:51 pmThey are all utter morons, how do they get elected?? I’m flabbergasted they even have jobs. They are ruining our country with their OBSTRUCTIONISM in the Senate that is wiping us out on so many fronts. Impeach Gonzales then move on up the chain and nail EVERYONE of these criminal Republicans....
Justice: When I see the buffonery and lack of education during presentations in hearings by these guys, I have to ask myself: Is the best we've got? If it is, we're in a bigger mess than I'd ever imagined.
How DID some of these asshats ever get elected in the first place? What were the people in their district thinking? or perhaps more appropriately, drinking?? Tainted Kool Aid, that's for sure!
July 10th, 2007 at 3:54 pmI say Leahy and Conyers need to be investigated!
July 10th, 2007 at 3:57 pmDomenici, yuou are done for. admit it.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:59 pmHa ha ha. I'm sure plenty of criminals just want the whole thing to go away. Nixon probably wanted Watergate to go away. Reagan wanted Iran Contra to go away. Libby wants the Plame-gate to go away. Oh wait, thanks to a presidential pardon, that one did.
And there's your avenue out. You need to get on the VP's good side. Maybe get some Haliburton earmarks inserted into some legislation, and I'm sure the VP will be more than happy to get Bush to pardon you, too. Oh wait, you came out at odds with the administration on the oil stealing (Iraq War) recently to try to save your job. Eek. Sorry, you're toast.
By the way, you did try to get Iglesias to prosecute some trumped up charges against your political rival right before an election. Your phone call to him was intimidating and intentionally trying to persuade him - meaning you tried to abuse the justice dept, and in doing so, violated senate ethics rules. You attempted to engage in election fraud. Then you got the guy fired who wouldn't play along. I'll be contributing to the guy running against you.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:06 pm@#2
Imagine when we finally get around to having legitimate truth and reconciliation hearings in this country to figure out what actually happened during the years of Bush rule.
We are gonna hang us some GOPers!
It will be the end of the GOP. I think it will split into two parties, giving birth to a viable three party system. I first heard this from former congressman Jim Leach in a meeting with him last summer. He seemed convinced at the time that a third party would emerge prior to the 2008 elections.
There are obvious fissures visible in the GOP right now, as more and more truths from the last 6 years become evident, I look for those fissures to further divide the GOP and ultimately the party.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:13 pmYou never should have taken the red pill if you didn't want to play the game Dom. No backsies.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:16 pmWe all want you over with, Pete, but not before we hear the truth.
July 10th, 2007 at 4:51 pmAn old rat, cornered at last...
July 10th, 2007 at 5:10 pmThis reminds me of something my ex-wife said to me:
"I'm tired of being the bad guy!"
about a day after her infidelities were revealed. Dom doesn't want to be the bad guy any more.
Too bad.
July 10th, 2007 at 6:28 pmOle Pete wants his involvement over just because he said so?? How convenient.
Sit and stew awhile Pete. We'll get back to ya.
July 10th, 2007 at 7:12 pm...oh, really? and i'd like to be queen so i can get my own car, driver, plane, castle, servants and everyone can give me flowers and smile at me and call me "Your Majesty." will THAT ever happen? and i'm a GOOD person!
July 10th, 2007 at 10:13 pmI just wanted to use the power of my office to influence an election illegally and get rid of guy who wouldn't cooperate with my plan to smear Democrats. I don't like being bothered by this stuff. Why can't people just cooperate and do what I tell them instead of making my life difficult. I just wanna be done with it. I mean the guys gone already, my friend won the election anyway so why can't you all stop bothering me. " I just want mine over with".
If this guy gets elected again then his constituents have no pride or integrity. What a condescending, authoritative sociopath. He remains completely self-absorbed and thinks "oversight" is just a word for others, but for Domenici it's just too troublesome.
July 11th, 2007 at 12:39 amWill you people stop already, this witch hunt your on is getting sickening.
July 11th, 2007 at 1:26 pm