Dennis Cook/Associated Press

Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee today in Washington. Beside him is Carol Lam, the former U.S. attorney in San Diego and one of four who testified.

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Update: Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias said today that he declined to talk to U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici and U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson about a case aimed at prominent New Mexico Democrats, in part out of concern the information would end up in political ads.

When he was asked to resign a month after the Nov. 7 election, Iglesias told a Senate panel today, he felt betrayed by people he considered political allies and, in Domenici's cae, a mentor.

Asked by Sen. Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee why he felt pressured by the phone calls in the weeks before the Nov. 7 election, Iglesias said he "thought it might be used in television or attack ads."

At the time - Wilson called him Oct. 16, Domenici around Oct. 30 - Wilson was locked in a heated battle with Democratic state Attorney General Patricia Madrid for Congressional District 1.

Iglesias said the issue of corruption prosecution had been used in numerous political ads. Wilson's ads focused on Madrid's alleged failure to prosecute white-collar criminals.

Iglesias said he did not want his office drawn into the race, he told the committee.

After he was asked to resign on Dec. 7, he said he felt betrayed by Domenici and Wilson. He considered Domenici "a mentor" who had recommended him to President Bush for the job. Wilson had been "a friend and an ally."

Specter pressed Iglesias on why, if he felt so close to the two lawmakers, he chose to reveal their phone calls.

"I've always been taught that loyalty was a two-way street," he said. "I believed they were behind me being asked to resign."

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias told the Senate Judiciary Committee today that he felt "sick" after getting a call at home from Sen. Pete Domenici regarding his office's progress on a public corruption investigation.

Iglesias, one of four U.S. attorneys to testify before the panel today, said he got a call at home in late October from Domenici's chief of staff, Steve Bell, saying the Albuquerque Republican wanted to talk to him about the ongoing investigation.

Public accounts had said indictments might be forthcoming against prominent Democrats in a case involving alleged kickbacks in public construction projects in Albuquerque.

Iglesias said Domenici asked him whether the indictments would come "before November."

When Iglesias replied they would not, Domenici told him, "`I'm very sorry to hear that,' and then the line went dead," Iglesias said.

Democratic New York Sen. Charles Schumer, who led the hearing, asked Iglesias how he felt after receiving the call.

"I felt sick afterward," said Iglesias.

Asked whether he felt pressured by Domenici's call, Iglesias replied, "Yes sir, I did. I felt leaned on. I felt pressure to get the matters moving."

A House Judiciary subcommittee is scheduled to take testimony from Iglesias and other dismissed attorneys this afternoon.