Ethics panel criticizes Sen. Domenici for call

By JoAnne Allen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Sen. Pete Domenici was criticized by a Senate ethics panel on Thursday for a call he made to a U.S. attorney, one of nine federal prosecutors who were later fired, sparking a political uproar.

David Iglesias, the U.S. attorney contacted by the veteran New Mexico senator, later told lawmakers he felt the call had been made to pressure him about an ongoing investigation.

The subsequent firing of Iglesias and eight other U.S. attorneys in 2006 prompted congressional investigations and led to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Critics charged that the nine federal prosecutors were fired for political reasons, allegations denied by the White House.

The Senate Ethics Committee found in a letter of "qualified admonition" that Domenici, who is retiring next year, should have known better than to contact the prosecutor about an ongoing investigation.

But the committee said it found no substantial evidence to determine that Domenici attempted to improperly influence the investigation and it recommended no formal punishment.

"The Committee does find that you should have known that a federal prosecutor receiving such a telephone call, coupled with an approaching election which may have turned on or been influenced by the prosecutor's actions in the corruption matter, created an appearance of impropriety," the panel said in the letter to Domenici.

Domenici said he was gratified the inquiry confirmed what he had always maintained.