NYT: G.O.P. Anger in Swing State Eased Attorney’s Exit

[maddezmom]

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Mr. Iglesias was the target of fierce criticism by lawmakers and political operatives, more so than any of the other seven prosecutors whose dismissals have set off a furor in Washington, interviews and a review of Justice Department documents show.

Rated a top performer by department officials early in 2005, Mr. Iglesias was the last added to the department’s hit list. That occurred last fall soon after a group of lawmakers, including Senator Pete V. Domenici, Republican of New Mexico, complained about lax voter fraud prosecutions to Mr. Bush, who relayed those concerns to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.

Several Republican leaders here insist that while their main grievances involved partisan issues, from possible voter fraud to corruption cases involving prominent Democrats, they also considered Mr. Iglesias too cautious and ineffective.

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Mr. Iglesias defended his handling of the vote-fraud and other investigations, saying his critics did not have access to the findings that guided his decisions. He says the attacks occurred because state Republican leaders felt betrayed, figuring “We helped the guy get the position, he owes us some kind of fealty.”

Mr. Iglesias said he had believed that his bosses shared his view that United States attorneys should stay above the fray. “I thought I was insulated from politics,” he said in an interview. “But now I find out that main Justice was up to its eyeballs in partisan political maneuvering.”

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/washington/18attorneys.html?hp