Stan Quote in Merc-News re: USA Firings

Stanley Brand, a former federal prosecutor and former Democratic counsel to the House, said such interference could be a violation.

"There's a general ethical principle that members should not unduly interfere in adjudicative proceedings in front of courts or agencies," he said. "This happens to be a criminal prosecution. There would seem to be a special concern about reaching out to a U.S. attorney and asking about a pending case.

"The House and Senate have not taken much notice of these things," he said. "But they don't usually rise to this level."

The allegations also could give defense attorneys in the corruption case in New Mexico legal ammunition to attack an indictment, Brand said.

"Even if he (Iglesias) didn't submit himself to the pressure, if I'm a defense attorney, I'm going to scream bloody murder and say it looks like he did," he said.

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