As we reported last night, the Senate Ethics Committee gave Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) a "qualified admonition" for his role in trying to influence a U.S. Attorney about a pending case.  Domenici improperly contacted New Mexico U.S. Attorney David Iglesias about a pending public corruption investigation. Despite Sen. Domenici’s telephone call to Mr. Iglesias and Mr. Iglesias’s statements that he felt pressured by Sen. Domenici’s actions, the ethics committee nevertheless found “no substantial evidence” that Sen. Domenici attempted to improperly influence the investigation. Adding insult to injury, the committee actually commended Sen. Domenici on his candor despite the fact that when Mr. Iglesias first revealed Sen. Domenici’s actions, the senator adamantly denied ever making the call, telling The Washington Post, “I have no idea what he’s talking about.” 

Today, CREW's Executive Director, Melanie Sloan made this statement:

The ethics committee may have been unable to wholeheartedly condemn Senator Domenici’s conduct, but we have no such compunction.  The committee’s effort to minimize its reprimand of Senator Domenici itself reflects poorly on the Senate. Little is more destructive to our democracy than an attempt to use political power to influence a criminal investigation and it should be distressing to all Americans that the Senate Ethics Committee does not appear to share that view.