(WATCH THE HEARINGS HERE.) 

Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) issued a statement to the Washington Post last night stating that she called New Mexico U.S. Attorney David Iglesias to ask about the corruption case in question. Wilson also said that constituents were complaining about "the slow pace of federal prosecutions" and that "Iglesias was intentionally delaying corruption investigations". It would have been nice if Wilson had said, like Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), that she was calling about something completely different. Wilson instead has essentially admitted to the crime here.

She says, "If the purpose of my call has somehow been misperceived, I am sorry for any confusion. I thought it was important for Mr. Iglesias to receive this information and, if necessary, have the opportunity to clear his name." (emphasis mine) So she confronted him with concerns from "unidentified constituents" and asked him to clear his name? That sounds like she's putting pressure on him if you ask me. This case needs to be referred to the House Ethics Committee post-haste.

Meanwhile, we hear that the chief of staff of Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty threatened the fired Attorneys if they were to "continue to criticize the Administration". Also the New York Times reports that another prosecutor, in Maryland, was fired in 2005 prematurely during an investigation into associates of Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R).

The hearings are under way in the Senate. More later.