Who was the fired US Atty in NM who would not go after this stuff?
David Iglesias Unconvincing As Prosecutor, and as Author
"Had Iglesias shown more interest in actual prosecutions, particularly public corruption cases, during his term, perhaps other shortcomings might have been overlooked. Instead, potential prosecutions languished for years as Iglesias sat on corruption cases that he wouldn't (not couldn't) bring forward.
As a courthouse corruption case (U.S. v. Martinez, Aragon, et al.) finally approaches trial, court filings provide ever more evidence of problems with Iglesias' failure to pursue corruption cases. The United States has announced it will introduce evidence of other crimes, prior bad acts including other instances of bribery and kickbacks. The purpose of introducing the prior bad acts is to establish that the bribery and kickbacks were willful, deliberate, and part of a long-term plan to loot the public treasury.
Although Iglesias has acknowledged that public corruption is endemic in New Mexico, his approach to it was anemic. Experienced, informed attorneys called his office "risk averse" — afraid of high-visibility criminal cases. Experienced assistant U.S. attorneys in his office bemoaned a "lack of leadership," "poor morale," "a decline in the quality of work produced by his office," all undermining the reputation and effectiveness of the office.
Beginning in 2005, Iglesias ignored the advice of his own senior prosecutors and Sen. Pete Domenici, to beef up the public corruption effort. On the other hand, Iglesias was able to bring the full weight and majesty of the U.S. Justice system down upon a young woman who attached some gum to a government form.