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Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images
Former Senator Pete Domenici, R-N.M., introduces former White House chief of staff Jack Lew during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on Lew's nomination to be Treasury Secretary on Feb. 13.
Former Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico revealed Wednesday that he fathered a child outside his marriage three decades ago with the daughter of another former senator.
Domenici, 80, a Republican who served six terms in the Senate before retiring in 2008, and the mother of the child each released statements to the Albuquerque Journal acknowledging Domenici’s fatherhood.
“I deeply regret this and am very sorry for my behavior,” Domenici said. “I hope New Mexicans will view that my accomplishments for my beloved state outweigh my personal transgression.”
The child, now grown, was identified as Adam Paul Laxalt, a lawyer in Las Vegas. His mother, Michelle Laxalt, is the daughter of Paul Laxalt, a Republican who represented Nevada in the Senate for 12 years before leaving in 1987.
Michelle Laxalt said in her statement: “One night’s mistake led to pregnancy more than 30 years ago.” She said that she raised the son as a single mother, and that Domenici had agreed to keep his fatherhood secret because of their connections to the Senate.
Domenici and Michelle Laxalt said they were releasing the information now because they thought someone else would shop it around to media outlets to damage Domenici’s reputation.
Her statement went on to say: “Recently information has come to me that this sacred situation might be twisted, re-written out of whole cloth, and shopped to press outlets large and small in a vicious attempt to smear, hurt and diminish Pete Domenici, an honorable man, his extraordinary wife, Nancy, and other innocents.”
Michelle Laxalt has been recognized as one of the most powerful lobbyists in Washington, and has appeared as a cable news pundit.
In an appearance on “Larry King Live” on CNN in March 2007, she defended Domenici during a discussion about U.S. attorneys who had been fired by President George W. Bush’s attorney general. One of the fired U.S. attorneys had suggested that Domenici improperly tried to influence his handling of an investigation.
Laxalt said that night: “You’re attacking the integrity of someone who has been in public service for his entire lifetime, at great sacrifice, supporting no fewer than eight children and with the many sacrifices and the many contributions Senator Domenici has made, not only to the country, but to New — the state of New Mexico.”
Domenici and his wife had eight children together. Domenici, reached at home Wednesday by The Associated Press, declined further comment. His statement said that his family has known for several months, and that he has “apologized as best I can” to his wife.
The website of Adam Paul Laxalt’s law firm identifies him as a former naval officer who served in Iraq.
Last week, another member of Congress, Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, said that he learned only three years ago that he has a daughter, now 24. Cohen, a Democrat, made the revelation after reporters inquired about messages he was sending to the woman on Twitter during the State of the Union address.
Domenici was on Capitol Hill last week to introduce Jack Lew, President Barack Obama’s nominee for treasury secretary, at his confirmation hearing. The two worked together when Lew served as President Bill Clinton’s budget director and Domenici chaired the Senate Budget Committee.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story was originally published on Wed Feb 20, 2013 12:45 PM EST
Leave a Comment:
What's the big deal? Kim Kardashian, Angelina Jolie, Tom Brady, and every other "pseudo-celebrity" do it all the time. So why the double standard? Oh yeah, could it be because he's a Republican?
No, because he is an elected official, people we use to hold to higher standards, deservedly or not.
I'm assuming that you think his actions are OK?
What's your thoughts on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, and more recently, the Menendez-Underage Dominican Prostitute scandal? I'll even spot you not having to defend Clinton, he and Lewinsky were both consenting adults (much like the Domenici-Laxalt thing). Personally, I think all three situations are a disgrace regardless of where you stand politically.
KC, How about Mark Foley, trying to set up dates with underage male pages? Bad thing about selective memory, somebody remembers stuff you'd rather they didn't.
Can't ANYONE keep their pants up?
Gotta love those Republican Family Values......
Yep, like your BillyJeff (The Rapist) Clinton, right? Or your current idol, King Hussein getting "tips" from Tiger (Porn Freak) Woods. Stoopid libtards.
I love the Reverend Jesse Jackson knocking up an employee just about the same time he was doing spiritual counseling for the Bill Clinton in the midst of the Monica Lewinski scandal. LOL
catlover - comment 29.1 - every time the subject is same-sex marriage, your kind are always screaming about protecting "the sanctity of marriage", "family values" and quoting Leviticus. But, when one of your own kind ignores what you all preach, you're right there defending him. According to your Leviticus, he should be stoned. So, what are you going to do about it? Yeah, I know, not a darn thing except say "Yes, but . . . . " Some of us might be "stupid libtards", but I'll take that over "lying hypocrite" any day!
@catlover589
Bill Clinton was a horndog, but who did he rape?
I think the current list is as follows:
Juanita Broaddrick (AR)- rape
Eileen Wellstone (Oxford) - rape
Elizabeth Ward Gracen - rape - post incident intimidation
Kathleen Willey (WH) - sexual assault, intimidations, threats
Sandra Allen James (DC) - sexual assault
22 Year Old 1972 (Yale) - sexual assault
Cristy Zercher - unwelcomed sexual advance, intimidations
Paula Jones (AR) - unwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault
Carolyn Moffet -unwelcomed sexual advance, exposure, bordering on sexual assault
1974 student at University of Arkansas - unwelcomed physical contact
1978-1980 - seven complaints per Arkansas state troopers
Monica Lewinsky - post incident character assault
Gennifer Flowers - post incident character assault
Dolly Kyle Browning - post incident character assault
Sally Perdue - post incident threats
Betty Dalton - rebuffed his advances, married to one of his supporters
Denise Reeder - apologetic note scanned
Of course, it's a work in progress.
3rd, I'd rather have someone who tries to be good, but stumbles, than someone who doesn't even try to be good. Stoopid lying libtards. Obaa-baa-ma. gimme my obamaphone!!!
That's a Reaganphone, dipstick
KC, a little proof there, and don't say that they accused him, You didn't give the accuser much respect when Anita Hill accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment.
Ooh, Johnny, your Facebook "friends" must be soooo impressed and proud of you. HAHAHAHAHA Stoopid libtard. gimme my obamaphone!!
OOooooh Catlicker, say it again...... I get a chubby every time you call me that.
It's all in the family.
What a bunch of libtard morons posting here - as expected. Anything goes for libtards, but if a Republican does something wrong, he's vilified. The only reason this came out is because some slimeball libtard threatened to "expose" the situation. Blackmail, plain and simple. No problem for the racist, hateful libtards, though. All hail King Hussein and his racist libtard minion sheeps. Gimme my obamaphone. Obaa-baa-ma.
Catlover - I replied, above, comment 29.3. BTW - the stamp goes in the upper, right corner, in the little box that says "Place Stamp Here"!
Cat lover; That is not an Obama phone it is a Bush phone-it was under Bush when the phones was given out and not Obama who wasn't president at that time. Quit lying about things >
Gayton, the Bush phone was a land line so poor people had access to emergency services and the like. It was expanded greatly under King Hussein's watch to include cell phones so his constituency could play their games while selling crack on the corner. Stoopid libtard. Pay attention.
Actually, you're both wrong. It started with Reagan. If you're going to insult me, don't try to insult my intelligence.
catnip, I don't give two sh!ts who any politician, Democrat or Republican screws. What I hate is when they climb on their holy pulpit right out of some whore's bed and claim to be so pure.
To all you morons who keep trying to say who is responsible for obamaphones - I don't give a crap who first started giving free land lines to poor people for safety. I do care about who decided to give free CELL phones to poor people (King Huissein), and the toothless negress plastered all over the social media screaming about how we should all vote for King Hussein because he gives them free stuff. The she screams 'gimme my obamaphone!!" So all you stoopid libtards can go suck eggs. Morons. gimme my obamaphone!!
Typical right wingnut, always worried about"facts" till someone gives them some, then they don't want to hear it. This is so much fun, Hope you're having as much fun as I am.
What "facts" have you provided? Or are you referring to the facts I provided? The land lines were provided so rural, poor people could call 911 in an emergency. How did this translate to cell phones to play games with while selling crack on the corner? Facts. Stoopid racist libtard sheep. obaa-baa-ma. gimme my obamaphone!!
Sounds like someone is looking for a book deal with the profits split between the two love birds.
If some sumbitch says he's a politician, just shoot him and do society a favor!
Am I the only one who found a conspicuous absence in no mention of the age of the daughter who was impregnated? Was she a minor at the time the good Senator indulged his desires?
Did she seriously just call her son a 1-night mistake? Her son is a mistake? Hunny... there are no mistakes when it comes to procreation activities. You *KNEW* what you were doing when you rutted in the bed like a stoat with that old geezer... and you have the gumption to call your amorous evening and subsequent pregnancy a mistake? What a nice lady... you win the Mother of the Year Award.
Soo... sleeping with the senator was a good idea, then?
ANother Republican't DEGENERATE... "family values" tur.d shows his true colors....
hahaha
So, he's 80 and it was 30 years ago and...how old is she now?
Looks like dude was gettin some young stuff on the side...
He is 80. The bastard is 27. She is 58. That means he was 53 and she was 31.
So he has grandchildren the same age as his son. I bet that will make interesting conversion around the table during the holidays.
Menendez age differential record could be in jeopardy here.
My prayer is that the young man can establish a relationship with his father and his other siblings. I'm also hoping that there will be healing and forgiveness. This is a very sad situation and many ways.
Peace.
He's a grown man, presumably with a life of his own. I don't see how meeting a bunch of strangers who probably resent the hell out of him is going to make his life any better.
Yes. "Family Values" Repiglicons. Many families. "The children! The children!" How many and whose are they? Cripes!
"sacred situation", "Pete Domenici, an honorable man," who the f*** are they kidding? Just came out with it because they were about to be exposed.
Bwahahahaha! F*** 'em.
Ah yes...Republiban Family Values...
Just amazing to me how this "conservative family values" crowd has all of these deep "sins" stashed away in their closets. Especially since they are so judgemental about others committing the same indiscretions. WHat a pack of phonies. Domenici, Michele Laxalt, all of them. I wish the young attorney from the Domenici/Michele liason all the best. And I hope he realizes that there is no such thing as an illegitimate human. He is here by the grace of God. So just make the best of it. Don't try to judge them or it. It was all about lust and sex. But it produced the beauty that is you. And stay away from those hypocritical Republicans like his Mother, blood father, and father whose name he shares. Just move on with a progressive life and accept that he at least knows who his mother and father really are. Even with their massive hypocrisy warts!
"Here by the grace of God."...ummm, he's here cause two people had sex.
And then you go really religious and tell him - "And stay away from those hypocritical Republicans like his Mother, blood father, and father whose name he shares"....really?
You realize both sides are hypocrites, right? And you realize that you just went and passed judgment on basically all Republicans - that's very God-like of you.
Sadie, your point being? Your friends like catlicker, kcboner, and others routinely pass judgement on all Democrats, and you're the ones claiming to be so Godlike
I guess one person’s “sacred situation” is another person’s “lustful, drunken one night stand”. I feel sorry for his wife if she truly didn’t know or suspect his infidelity(s) until a couple of months ago. I can’t imagine how confused I would feel if someone had kept that from me for 30 years and only brought it to light because it might have been revealed by someone else. It would give me a whole new outlook on our relationship and how much I could trust what they had said and done during the course of our life (??) together. If he makes a mistake, owns up to it and tries to work it out that’s one thing but to try to “protect” someone by not giving them the truth is lower than a snakes belly in a wagon rut and it tells me a lot about the character of this long time senator and his accomplishments for his beloved state. If his morals allow him to treat his wife/life partner that way I can only imagine what he would be capable of doing to his virtually unknown constituents.
"If his morals allow him to treat his wife/life partner that way I can only imagine what he would be capable of doing to his virtually unknown constituents."
Is that the same thing you said during Clinton's trouble with Lewinsky?
Ya know, most of the time, you diddle a friend's daughter, you're lucky to get away with half your teeth, I guess Republican politicians have a different code of conduct
What's even more disgusting is that right-wingers defend him.
Can they go any lower?
Most of the Bible thumpers use their Bibles only as weapons against people they don't like. When it's people they approve of, anything goes.
Could you please point out the right wingers that are defending his actions?
Her statement went on to say: “Recently information has come to me that this sacred situation might be twisted, re-written out of whole cloth, and shopped to press outlets large and small in a vicious attempt to smear, hurt and diminish Pete Domenici, an honorable man, his extraordinary wife, Nancy, and other innocents.”
Sorry, but "honorable" men do not cheat on their wives and father children outside their marriage.
Despite what these Representatives would have you believe they are just as flawed as the rest of us.
Sure does seem that as a percent to the population, they are more often flawed than the rest of us.
Mark, I have little doubt you are correct.
As one of the rest of us, I resent you saying that I am just as flawed as a Representative.
I guess one person’s “sacred situation” is another person’s “lustful, drunken one night stand”. I feel sorry for his wife if she truly didn’t know or suspect his infidelity(s) until a couple of months ago. I can’t imagine how confused I would feel if someone had kept that from me for 30 years and only brought it to light because it might have been revealed by someone else. It would give me a whole new outlook on our relationship and how much I could trust what they had said and done during the course of our life (??) together. If he makes a mistake, owns up to it and tries to work it out that’s one thing but to try to “protect” someone by not giving them the truth is lower than a snakes belly in a wagon rut and it tells me a lot about the character of this long time senator and his accomplishments for his beloved state. If his morals allow him to treat his wife/life partner that way I can only imagine what he would be capable of doing to his virtually unknown constituents.
This is just a smoke screen. Domenici needs to be investigated in his role in the New Mexico's U.S. Attorneys Scandal.
Damm, this Domenici guy did more work with what's between his legs then all the time in DC.
Typical MSNBC! The fact that he and the woman are Republicans was thrust forward two times in the first one hundred words. They were also sure to put it in the caption under the picture. I remember a few days ago an article about a southern California politician that blew $1,000,000,000 worth of charitable money from a non-profit organization. She stole it and used it for gambling. Turns out she was Democrat, but NOWHERE in the article did MSNBC mention that little tidbit! She took food, money, clothing, housing, etc., out of the hands of needy people and Dems want to just conveniently omit her party affiliation. A Repub has one child out of wed lock 30 years ago, and as I stated, his party is thrown out there three times in the first few partial paragraphs.
Kind of a glaring double standard there don't think? But then again, that's what we've come to expect from the left. This post will probably get deleted by the MSN censors.
Valid point if what you say is accurate. No intelligent person can say MSNBC isn't biased because we all know it is.
MSNBC clearly pointed out that a Democrat had a daughter he only found out about 3 years ago.
And here is a quote from the article: "O'Connor was the Democratic leader of California's second-largest city from 1986 to 1992."
People need to read first, then comment.
Actually they mentioned that she was a democrat several times in the article. They also mentioned that the money she stole was from his charity.
Tao33... Mecindi,
WRONG!!!!! I said the article as put forward by MSNBC. Below is the article verbatim as written and taken from the MSNBC site!
"Former San Diego Mayor Maureen O’Connor acknowledged in federal court Thursday that she took $2 million from her late husband's charitable foundation to pay for her addiction to video poker — and lost $1 billion wagering over the course of a decade."
Follow @NBCNewsUS
O’Connor, the mayor of California’s second largest city from 1986 to 1992, pleaded not guilty to money laundering as part of a deal with prosecutors that will defer the charges for two years as she attempts to repay the debt.
An attorney for O’Connor, Eugene Iredale, told reporters outside the courthouse that his client had severe health problems, including a brain tumor, that led to her gambling addition, according to NBC San Diego.
Iredale said his client won more than $1 billion from 2000 to 2009 playing video poker in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and San Diego, but lost most of it.
After dipping into the red, she wound up compiling $13 million in debt, according her attorney.
Prosecutors allege that between September 2008 and March 2009, the 66-year-old took more than $2,088,000 from the foundation started by her late husband, Jack-in-the-Box founder Robert O. Peterson.
O’Connor was elected the first female mayor of San Diego after serving eight years on city council. She was married to Peterson from 1977 until his death in 1994, and her estate was at one time worth $40 to $50 million.
That is the entire story from MSNBC. Where is it mentioned in the entire story that she was a Democrat? NOWHERE! NOT ONE TIME! The news outlet you are referring to that mentioned her political affiliation was FOX, not MSNBC. Why don't you take your own advice, read the story and comprehend it. Don't try to be smart, you'll be up way past your bedtime!