Think Progress: Hastings (R-Wa) Pressured Former U.S. Atty in Investigation

Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) Pressured Former U.S. Attorney In Federal Investigation

Today, John McKay, the former U.S. attorney in Washington, revealed to the Senate Judiciary Committee that Rep. Doc Hastings’s (R-WA) office contacted him and attempted to pressure him in an ongoing investigation.

Shortly after the 2004 elections, McKay received a call from Ed Cassidy, Hastings’s chief of staff, on behalf of the congressman. Cassidy was inquiring about McKay’s investigation of voter fraud in the hotly contested 2004 gubernatorial election, which had been certified in favor of the Democratic candidate. McKay said that Cassidy asked him about “future action” in the case, but ended the call “in a most expeditious fashion” when McKay pointed out that it is “improper” for a lawmaker to lobby a U.S. attorney on an ongoing investigation. Watch it:

House rules prohibit members “from contacting executive or agency officials regarding the merits of matters under their formal consideration.” Nevertheless, Cassidy now advises House Minority Leader John Boehner on congressional ethics.

Earlier today, the former U.S. attorney for New Mexico David Iglesias also publicly detailed how Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) pressured him in an investigation.

Transcript and video here:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/06/mckay-hastings/

yet delighted.