ALBUQUERQUE – Political junkies turned out in droves in recent days to hear former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias talk about his newly published memoir, "In Justice: Inside the Scandal That Rocked the Bush Administration," but at least one audience member at a signing Monday night had more than a passing interest in the book.



"I just wanted to see what you’d write about my client, Manny Aragon," Albuquerque attorney Ray Twohig told Iglesias at the North Valley book store Bookworks.



Aragon was at the epicenter of Iglesias’ politically motivated firing in 2006. The former Democratic state lawmaker at one time controlled the state Senate and was being investigated by Iglesias’ office for his alleged role in the Bernalillo County courthouse corruption scandal. Weeks before the November 2006 election, Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson — both Albuquerque Republicans — called Iglesias at home to inquire about the pace of the investigation. Wilson eventually won re-election by a razor-thin margin over then-Attorney General Patricia Madrid

Aragon ultimately was indicted and charged with 14 counts of fraud, money laundering and conspiracy, but not before Iglesias was asked by the Justice Department to resign. Iglesias has said he believes his firing was politically motivated.



On Monday night, Twohig stood and faced the man whose office indicted Aragon, and said he bought Iglesias’ book as soon as it was available. Although Twohig said he still had a few pages left to read, he told the author, "It’s extremely well written. You’re a better writer than I thought you’d be," adding with a smile, "Maybe you had a little help along the way."



Twohig went on, saying he knew Iglesias had been slammed by some Republicans for not prosecuting voter fraud cases, and that the phone calls placed by Domenici and Wilson may have played a role in Iglesias’ dismissal.



"But I really don’t see yet why you were fired," Twohig said.



Iglesias said he has only theories. One is that his failure to indict anyone on voter fraud charges riled prominent Republicans, he said. He had told the crowd earlier that he set up one of the only voter-fraud task forces in the country after allegations were raised in 2004. "I couldn’t find a single case" that could be won in a courtroom, he said.



His second theory is that his refusal to rush the prosecution of Aragon and others in the courthouse corruption case prompted Domenici, his former mentor, to act. "I’m convinced Domenici picked up the phone, called the White House, the Justice Department, and said, ‘He’s over his head, he doesn’t know what he’s doing.’ Can I prove that in court?" Iglesias asked. "No. But I know performance was not the reason."



Another questioner asked whether Iglesias thought White House or Justice Department officials might have prompted Domenici and Wilson to make their calls. No, he said, they appear to have been spurred by the close race Wilson was in with Madrid.



"Heather was desperate," Iglesias said. Republicans clearly wanted ammunition they could use against Madrid, he said, but he wouldn’t play ball. "I didn’t tell her anything."