US attorney says he was pressured by lawmakers

Washington: A political tempest over the mass firing of federal prosecutors escalated on Wednesday with allegations from the departing US attorney in New Mexico.

He said two members of Congress attempted to pressure him to speed up a probe of Democrats just before the November elections.

David Iglesias, who left on Wednesday after more than five years in office, said he received the calls in October and believes that complaints from the lawmakers may have led the Justice Department to fire him late last year.

Iglesias also responded to allegations from Justice officials that he had performed poorly.