In an interview with NBC News on Monday, Gonzales amended his initial statements, acknowledging that he attended the Nov. 27 meeting, but he and his aides left the impression that he was not involved in deciding who would be fired.
Schumer asked about a statement last week by Tasia Scolinos, a spokeswoman at the Justice Department, that Gonzales did not participate in the selection of U.S. attorneys to be fired.
"Was that an accurate statement?" Schumer asked.
"I don't think that's an accurate statement," Sampson replied.
Sampson said none of the firings was motivated by a desire to affect public corruption cases that the U.S. attorneys were pursuing, as some Democrats have alleged.
Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) went through a series of Sampson's e-mails to the White House about New Mexico prosecutor Iglesias. In five memos from March 2005 to October 2006, Sampson did not include Iglesias on a list of those to be fired. But on Nov. 7 last year, Iglesias' name was included.
Was it because of complaints he was moving too slow on a political corruption case involving Democrats in New Mexico? Leahy asked.
No, Sampson said. It had more to do with concern that Rove had about voting fraud cases.
"I don't remember hearing any complaints or anything about Mr. Iglesias' handling of corruption cases in New Mexico," Sampson said.
"I do remember learning from the attorney general that he had received a complaint from Karl Rove about U.S. attorneys in three jurisdictions, including New Mexico, that these U.S. attorneys were not pursuing voter fraud cases as aggressive as they could have."
He said others in the Justice Department and White House saw Iglesias as someone they wanted to keep, especially since he is Latino.
"Mr. Iglesias was a diverse up-and-comer," Sampson said. "I knew that."
Sampson said Deputy Atty. Gen. Paul J. McNulty told him that Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) "wouldn't have any problems" if Iglesias were fired. For several years, Domenici had complained about Iglesias and wanted him removed. But Sampson conceded that, "in hindsight," he would not have fired Iglesias.
Sampson was questioned about an e-mail he sent in May, citing a "real problem" with Lam in which he pushed for her replacement. The e-mail was sent the day after her office had notified the Justice Department that it was planning to search the office of a CIA official who was linked to an investigation concerning convicted Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Rancho Santa Fe).
Sampson testified that the "the real problem" he was referring to was that Lam was not prosecuting enough immigration cases. He said the Justice Department was under pressure from House Republicans for not prosecuting immigration fraud more aggressively.
He also acknowledged complaining to an aide to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III this year when the San Diego FBI chief questioned in a news report whether Lam's departure was politically motivated.
Mueller testified this week that the FBI subsequently ordered the agent to stop talking to the media.
rick.schmitt@latimes.com
richard.serrano@latimes.com
Times staff writer James Gerstenzang contributed to this report.
