DOJ Probing Bias in US Atty Firing
Former New Mexico U.S. Attorney David Iglesias has filed a complaint with a unit of the U.S. Department of Justice that claims he was fired in December because of the time he spent away from his office on Naval Reserve duty.
A memo prepared for Justice Department officials testifying before Congress said Iglesias was “perceived to be an ‘absentee landlord’,” the Albuquerque Tribune reports. He spent more than 40 days each year away from the office on Naval Reserve duty.
“(Deputy Attorney General) Paul McNulty told the senators behind closed doors that I was an absentee landlord,” Iglesias told the paper. “He can’t be complaining about my vacations because I only took two to three weeks. He can’t be complaining about the trips I took for the Justice Department. That leaves the military duty. I want to see whether there is any documentation that corroborates that possibility.”
DOJ’s Office of Special Counsel, which also investigates whistle-blower cases, says it is investigating Iglesias’ claim. The office can order reinstatement and back pay.
