DPNM Executive Director Calls for Answers

Wilson Needs To Answer Some Questions

Albuquerque, NM - As former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson considers mounting a bid for the governor's office, New Mexicans deserve the truth about her role in the politically motivated firing of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias.

In Congressional testimony to the House Judiciary Committee, George Bush confidante Karl Rove described Wilson's role in the firing as an advocate for removing Iglesias from his post. Wilson contradicted him.

"Who is telling the truth, Karl Rove or Heather Wilson?," said Josh Geise, executive director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. "This issue goes to the heart of public integrity - a U.S. Attorney was fired for political reasons. Even Karl Rove says she had something to do with it - why can't she own up to her role?"

Numerous questions remain for Wilson to clear up, Geise said. Those questions include:

- Do you believe Karl Rove perjured himself when he said you "pushed the White House to fire New Mexico's then-U.S. attorney, David Iglesias, before the Nov. 2006 election because he wasn't moving fast enough on a corruption case involving New Mexico Democrats"? [Politico, Aug. 12, 2009]

- How many times did you communicate with Karl Rove about Iglesias over email, in letters or verbally? How many times did you communicate with any White House staff about Iglesias? Did any of your staff communicate with White House staff about the firing?

- Karl Rove's attorney says you spoke to Rove before the 2006 election about Iglesias. You have denied this. Why would Rove's attorney make inaccurate statements about an important date in the timeline? Doesn't Karl Rove have an acute sense of when elections take place?

- Did you see Karl Rove when he visited New Mexico in September 2006, when he called Harriet Miers in the White House and was "agitated" about Iglesias? Were you with him when he made that phone call? Did you or any of your aides meet with him and discuss Iglesias?

- You have said publicly that the FBI requested your help in an investigation about Patrcia Madrid. What help did you provide to the FBI as they investigated your political opponent?

- What was the value of weighing in on this investigation if the goal was not to influence the investigation and ultimately help your campaign?

- Are there any circumstances in which it's appropriate for elected officials to complain about the pace of political investigations of their opponents by the U.S. Attorney's office? Shouldn't elected officials be held to a high standard of avoiding such conflicts of interest?