Just a quick one before bed......
Sources: GOP Lawmakers Tried To Influence Federal Investigation
By Marisa Taylor
McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON - Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson of New Mexico pressured the U.S. attorney in their state to speed up indictments in a federal corruption investigation that involved at least one former Democratic state senator, according to two people familiar with the contacts.
The alleged involvement of the two Republican lawmakers raises questions about possible violations of House of Representatives and Senate ethics rules and could taint the criminal investigation into the award of an $82 million courthouse contract.
So, a double whammy. Not only did these two cretins help to hasten their party's skid hellward with the latest ethics lapse, but they may have actually been guilty of obstruction of justice, for "tainting" a criminal investigation.
Let me be clear. If this Dem really did what the possible indictment says, then let justice win out. But these two screwballs win the award for stoopidest mortals presently known. Josh Marshall tells us why:
When I first heard about this latest development USA attorney, I could believe that Wilson pulled something like this. I'm not saying she strikes me, or struck me, as particularly unethical. And I'm not saying that someone like Pete Domenici -- who must basically own the New Mexico Republican party -- would be above it. But I'm surprised someone who's served in the senate for 35 years or so wouldn't know to put a little distance -- an intermediary or two -- between him and the US attorney he was trying to muscle under.
Righto.
Josh also calls (rightly, I believe) McClatchy's next shot:
Now we know Wilson and Domenici were the first links in the chain. Who they'd talk to? [sic] Walk it back.
UPDATE 1:01am 3-2-07: Another one from Josh (he's really on top of this), from this past Wednesday:
If Iglesias got canned because he wasn't willing to tip the scales of justice in favor of the GOP, it's awfully hard to figure that Lam wasn't fired for what has always seemed to be the most logical reason -- because she was bagging too many corrupt Republicans and getting too deep into the CIA.
UPDATE II 1:08am 3-2-07: If you haven't heard already David Iglesias, and the other subpoenaed attorneys will be telling their stories to our beloved Congress at 2pm next Tuesday, the 6th. I've got to get up in five hours to git the youngin' off ta school, so..........carry on.
Oh, one more thing. I hear this scandal is being called "The Pearl Harbor Day Massacre" since most of the firings came down on Dec. 7th. Could this be Bush's Saturday Night Fever Massacre??? And we always thought it would be Fitz!!!
UPDATE III 1:25am 3-2-07: Last one, I swear. I just sent this to Josh at TPM, based on a comment below by Miss Blue:
Another angle to consider. Tim Griffin, who dropped his bid for Bud Cummins' post in Arkansas. Did he drop out because he saw just how huge and deep this scandal could get? Interesting that a Rove hatchet-man, of all people, doesn't even have the guts to ride this one out, huh?
UPDATE IV 1:45am 3-2-07:
A United States attorney in Arkansas who was dismissed from his job last year by the Justice Department was ousted after Harriet E. Miers, the former White House counsel, intervened on behalf of the man who replaced him, according to Congressional aides briefed on the matter.
Ms. Miers, the aides said, phoned an aide to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales suggesting the appointment of J. Timothy Griffin, a former military and civilian prosecutor who was a political director for the Republican National Committee and a deputy to Karl Rove, the White House political adviser.
Later, the incumbent United States attorney, H. E. Cummins III, was removed without explanation and replaced on an interim basis by Mr. Griffin. Officials at the White House and Justice Department declined to comment on Ms. Miers’s role in the matter.
UPDATE V 8:30am 3-2-07: Wow, earthquakes in California and blizzards here in Vermont. Snow Day!!! Please go see ePluribus Media for the backgrounds of each and every fired US Attorney. Thanks to Timroff below!
UPDATE VI 10:33am 3-2-07: New Mexican Editorial Page nails it (thanks to Phil S 33)
FINAL UPDATE VII 11:30am 3-2-07: My personal speculation, after reading this excellent article at TPM is this: December, 2006. Post "huge November losses" for Republicans. Republican scandals abounding. Hardly a Dem scandal to be seen. I believe these firings are mostly "political red meat" to pissed-off Republican state and local pols, who want someone, ANYONE to blame for their tremendous losses in November. Lord knows they can't (or won't) blame their Supreme Commander for trashing their party.
Translation: Bush-loyalists throwing non-Bush-loyalists under the bus.