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WASHINGTON — David Iglesias did not appear on the list of U.S. attorneys to be fired until after he received phone calls from Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson in October about an ongoing corruption case, according to memos and e-mails released by the House Judiciary Committee.
Iglesias, then the U.S. attorney for New Mexico, showed up on the list in November, more than a year after top Justice Department and White House officials began hatching a plan to can a group of U.S. attorneys.
Here is the timeline in the case, according to the documents and statements by Iglesias and Domenici and Wilson, both Albuquerque Republicans.
March 2, 2005 - Kyle Sampson, chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, sends a chart to Harriet Miers, then legal counsel to President Bush, listing U.S. attorneys who should be replaced or retained.
Iglesias is listed in the category of "strong U.S. attorneys who have produced, managed well, and exhibited loyalty to the president and attorney general."
Jan. 9, 2006 - Sampson tells Miers "a limited number of U.S. attorneys could be targeted for removal and replacement, mitigating the shock to the system that would result from an across-the-board firing."
Jan. 31 - Natalie Voris, associate counsel in the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys at the Justice Department, sends higher-ups a report on the caseload in New Mexico.
She states: "Iglesias said that nobody from the USAO is sidebarring the senator (Domenici), however he states that there is a severe need for more prosecutors in Las Cruces. He believes that the judges are likely seeking the senator's assistance."
June 20 - Scott Jennings, White House deputy political director, tells Monica Goodling, Justice Department liaison to the White House, that New Mexico lobbyist Mickey Barnett "has requested a meeting with someone at DOJ to discuss the USATTY situation there."
Jennings notes that Barnett has been nominated for the U.S. Postal Board of Governors and "was heavily involved in the President's campaign's legal team."
June 21 - Barnett and Albuquerque lawyer Pat Rogers meet with Goodling.
Oct. 16 - Wilson calls Iglesias to ask about progress in an ongoing investigation of kickbacks in an Albuquerque courthouse construction project.
Oct. 17 - Sampson tells Michael Elston, chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, that six U.S. attorneys should be "pushed out." Iglesias is not on the list.
Oct. 26 - Domenici calls Iglesias at home to ask when something will be filed in the courthouse case.
Nov. 15 - Sampson sends "Plan for Replacing Certain United States Attorneys" to Miers and McNulty listing U.S. attorneys to be fired, including Iglesias. Sampson says the attorneys are to be told: "The administration made the determination to seek the resignations (not any specific person at the White House or the Department of Justice)."
Dec. 4 - Sampson tells White House Deputy Counsel William Kelley: "We would like to execute this on Thursday, Dec. 7. (All the U.S. attorneys are in town for our Project State Childhood conference until Wednesday; we want to wait until they are back home and dispersed, to reduce chatter.)"
Dec. 7 - Sampson tells Kelley that "Domenici's COS (Chief of Staff Steve Bell) is happy as a clam and will get us (replacement) names forthwith."
Dec. 14 - Sampson tells Goodling, "FYI, WH wants this guy for NM USA, but Domenici is not so sure. Supposedly Domenici is going to send over names tomorrow (not even waiting for Iglesias' body to cool.)"
Jan. 5 - Domenici issues a news release saying he is recommending Jim Bibb, Glenn Ellington, Charles Peifer or Pat Rogers to replace Iglesias.
Jan. 8 - Bell tells Jennings that a "fifth name coming today. To repeat: (name blacked out) is our overwhelming choice and will take the job."
Jan. 10 - Iglesias asks Sampson, "I'm wondering if you could ask the Judge (Gonzales) if I can list him as a reference." Sampson responds, "You can list the AG as a reference - not a problem. Good luck!"
