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WASHINGTON — In response to the testimony of former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico David Iglesias, Sen. Pete Domenici said he never used the word "November" when he called Iglesias about an ongoing Albuquerque courthouse corruption case.

"Mr. Iglesias confirmed that our conversation was brief and that my words did not threaten him, nor did I direct him to take any course of action," the Albuquerque Republican said Tuesday. "While I recall, as I stated previously, that I asked Mr. Iglesias about (the) timing of the investigation, neither I nor those who overheard my side of the brief conversation recall my mentioning the November election to him."

Iglesias, in sworn testimony Tuesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Domenici asked him whether he planned to take action in the case "before November."

Rep. Heather Wilson, an Albuquerque Republican, had no response to Iglesias' statement that she asked him about "sealed indictments." Neither of her media aides returned phone calls or e-mails to The Tribune.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has asked the House and Senate ethics committees to investigate whether Domenici and Wilson violated congressional ethics rules.

A top Justice Department official denied that any U.S. attorneys were fired to either slow down or speed up corruption cases.

William Moschella, principal associate deputy attorney general, said Iglesias was fired because he handed over management of the office to his first assistant.

Iglesias told the committee that prosecutions rose in New Mexico during his tenure. He told The Tribune that he asked his top aides to deal with "routine" matters, but he signed off on all big decisions and major cases.