You are right. It was Tancredo who was a real stalwart on illegal invasion until Rove told him, and I quote: “Don’t soil these steps again with you presence.”. Before long, nobody ever heard from him again.
That makes me suspicious that it was Rove who put pressure on the so-called higher-ups to shut Tom down.
I did not know about the Rove statement.
But it doesn’t surprise me.
If you go against the grain and the desires of the GOPe...you are toast. It is happening today and people act surprised.