Former Senator admits to fathering secret child with colleague's daughter
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Former Sen. Pete Domenici has disclosed that he fathered a secret child in the 1970s with the 24-year-old daughter of one of his Senate colleagues - a startling revelation for a politician with a reputation as an upstanding family man.
Domenici and Michelle Laxalt sent statements to the Albuquerque Journal that announced the relationship for the first time and identified their son as Nevada attorney Adam Paul Laxalt. They said they decided to go public with their decades-old secret because they believed someone was about to release the information in an attempt to smear Domenici.
"I deeply regret this and am very sorry for my behavior," Domenici, 80, said in his statement. "I hope New Mexicans will view that my accomplishments for my beloved state outweigh my personal transgression."
The Journal reported on the relationship in an article published Wednesday.
Domenici, a Republican, was the longest-serving senator in New Mexico history when he retired in 2008 after six terms. He was known for his unflagging support of the state's national laboratories and military installations, and he became a power broker for his work on the federal budget and energy policy.
Domenici voted for the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton in 1998 after his affair with Monica Lewinsky, but his floor statement focused on the fact that Clinton had lied under oath, noting that the trial "has never been about the President's private sex acts, as tawdry as they have been."
But in the same speech, he cited the value of "truthfulness" and how it's the first pillar of good character.
Reached at his home in Washington on Wednesday, Domenici said he had nothing more to say. Domenici and his wife have been married more than 50 years and have eight children.
The scandal has all the elements of an inside-the-Beltway soap opera.
Michelle Laxalt is the daughter of former U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt, himself a significant political figure in the 1970s and '80s as he served as Nevada governor and two terms in the Senate alongside Domenici.
Michelle Laxalt became a prominent lobbyist, Republican activist and television commentator after the affair. She said in the statement that she chose to raise her son as a single parent and that the two agreed that it would be a private matter.
"One night's mistake led to pregnancy more than 30 years ago," she said.
Laxalt's prominence in national politics occasionally put her in an odd position of publicly discussing the integrity of the man who is the father of her child.
In 2008, Domenici was reprimanded by the Senate ethics committee for his involvement in a scandal over the Bush administration's firing of eight U.S. attorneys.
At the time, Laxalt defended Domenici's integrity on CNN, calling him an honorable man who was supporting "no fewer than eight children."
The website for Adam Laxalt's law firm said he is a former U.S. Navy officer and lawyer who served in Iraq. He also worked for then-Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and as a special assistant to an undersecretary of state, according to the website.
He has also written a number of conservative columns against policies like Obamacare and the lifting of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays for publications like the National Review Online, American Spectator and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. And he serves on the board of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.
Domenici is the latest in a long line of politicians who were forced to reveal secret children, from one-time Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards to former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Just last week, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee acknowledged that he's the father of a 24-year-old woman after the two were seen communicating on Twitter during the State of the Union address.
Earlier this month, the daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond and his family's maid died in South Carolina. Essie Mae Washington-Williams, whose mother was black, didn't come forward and identify Thurmond as her father until after his death at age 100 in 2003.
Thurmond, who was white, was an ardent segregationist for decades.
Domenici said he was sorry that he caused hurt and disappointment for his wife and other family members. He said he disclosed the situation to his family several months ago.
"I have apologized as best as I can to my wife, and we have worked together to strengthen our relationship," Domenici said.
Domenici told the Journal his son participated in the drafting of his statement, but it was unclear if the two had a prior relationship.
The Laxalts did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment.
In New Mexico, political leaders said they were surprised, but they doubted the revelation would negatively impact the Domenici legacy.
"It is going to make his legacy a little bit more colorful because he is not exactly the kind of guy you expect that from," said Maurilio Vigil, a political science professor emeritus at Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M.
"It is surprising because he was always an upstanding type of fellow, a family man, and that was his image."
Edward Lujan, former chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said he had heard rumors about the child years ago, but "I didn't pay much attention. I didn't care. Those kinds of things honestly are between the families and has nothing to do with how he did his job."
"I don't think there was anything hypocritical about anything," Lujan said. "I admire him as much today as I did yesterday and the day before."
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez said her "thoughts and prayers are with the family.
"It's a difficult time," she said, "but Sen. Domenici's work is a very separate and distinct issue. I think he's done great things for the state and I don't think anyone will ever forget the hard work and all that he brought to New Mexico."
Others weren't as strong in their defense of Domenici and sizing up how the revelations would affect this legacy.
"I'll leave that for historians and other people to judge," said former Gov. Toney Anaya, a Democrat who ran a close race against Domenici in 1978.
___
Associated Press writers Russell Contreras and Barry Massey contributed to this report.
Domenici and Michelle Laxalt sent statements to the Albuquerque Journal that announced the relationship for the first time and identified their son as Nevada attorney Adam Paul Laxalt. They said they decided to go public with their decades-old secret because they believed someone was about to release the information in an attempt to smear Domenici.
"I deeply regret this and am very sorry for my behavior," Domenici, 80, said in his statement. "I hope New Mexicans will view that my accomplishments for my beloved state outweigh my personal transgression."
The Journal reported on the relationship in an article published Wednesday.
Domenici, a Republican, was the longest-serving senator in New Mexico history when he retired in 2008 after six terms. He was known for his unflagging support of the state's national laboratories and military installations, and he became a power broker for his work on the federal budget and energy policy.
Domenici voted for the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton in 1998 after his affair with Monica Lewinsky, but his floor statement focused on the fact that Clinton had lied under oath, noting that the trial "has never been about the President's private sex acts, as tawdry as they have been."
But in the same speech, he cited the value of "truthfulness" and how it's the first pillar of good character.
Reached at his home in Washington on Wednesday, Domenici said he had nothing more to say. Domenici and his wife have been married more than 50 years and have eight children.
The scandal has all the elements of an inside-the-Beltway soap opera.
Michelle Laxalt is the daughter of former U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt, himself a significant political figure in the 1970s and '80s as he served as Nevada governor and two terms in the Senate alongside Domenici.
Michelle Laxalt became a prominent lobbyist, Republican activist and television commentator after the affair. She said in the statement that she chose to raise her son as a single parent and that the two agreed that it would be a private matter.
"One night's mistake led to pregnancy more than 30 years ago," she said.
Laxalt's prominence in national politics occasionally put her in an odd position of publicly discussing the integrity of the man who is the father of her child.
In 2008, Domenici was reprimanded by the Senate ethics committee for his involvement in a scandal over the Bush administration's firing of eight U.S. attorneys.
At the time, Laxalt defended Domenici's integrity on CNN, calling him an honorable man who was supporting "no fewer than eight children."
The website for Adam Laxalt's law firm said he is a former U.S. Navy officer and lawyer who served in Iraq. He also worked for then-Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and as a special assistant to an undersecretary of state, according to the website.
He has also written a number of conservative columns against policies like Obamacare and the lifting of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays for publications like the National Review Online, American Spectator and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. And he serves on the board of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada.
Domenici is the latest in a long line of politicians who were forced to reveal secret children, from one-time Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards to former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Just last week, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee acknowledged that he's the father of a 24-year-old woman after the two were seen communicating on Twitter during the State of the Union address.
Earlier this month, the daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond and his family's maid died in South Carolina. Essie Mae Washington-Williams, whose mother was black, didn't come forward and identify Thurmond as her father until after his death at age 100 in 2003.
Thurmond, who was white, was an ardent segregationist for decades.
Domenici said he was sorry that he caused hurt and disappointment for his wife and other family members. He said he disclosed the situation to his family several months ago.
"I have apologized as best as I can to my wife, and we have worked together to strengthen our relationship," Domenici said.
Domenici told the Journal his son participated in the drafting of his statement, but it was unclear if the two had a prior relationship.
The Laxalts did not immediately respond to emails and phone calls seeking comment.
In New Mexico, political leaders said they were surprised, but they doubted the revelation would negatively impact the Domenici legacy.
"It is going to make his legacy a little bit more colorful because he is not exactly the kind of guy you expect that from," said Maurilio Vigil, a political science professor emeritus at Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M.
"It is surprising because he was always an upstanding type of fellow, a family man, and that was his image."
Edward Lujan, former chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said he had heard rumors about the child years ago, but "I didn't pay much attention. I didn't care. Those kinds of things honestly are between the families and has nothing to do with how he did his job."
"I don't think there was anything hypocritical about anything," Lujan said. "I admire him as much today as I did yesterday and the day before."
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez said her "thoughts and prayers are with the family.
"It's a difficult time," she said, "but Sen. Domenici's work is a very separate and distinct issue. I think he's done great things for the state and I don't think anyone will ever forget the hard work and all that he brought to New Mexico."
Others weren't as strong in their defense of Domenici and sizing up how the revelations would affect this legacy.
"I'll leave that for historians and other people to judge," said former Gov. Toney Anaya, a Democrat who ran a close race against Domenici in 1978.
___
Associated Press writers Russell Contreras and Barry Massey contributed to this report.
It's quite interesting that the Ms. Laxalt would come out as the mother of his child, years after publicly defending him to the public eye, and now we know there was a reason. Kind of makes you wonder if Domenici helped further the careers of this mistress (seriously, does anyone believe this was a one-time act, and just happened to result in pregnancy?) and their love-child.
Well, now we know why he was so "up"standing, maybe his wife should cut off his viagra prescription.
I can hear how fauxe nooze will spin this one...."domenici is a devote christian family man because he repeated "oh god" while schtupping this wonderful republiCON lobbyist"
mann coulter, "our schtupping congressmen are better than their schtupping congressmen"Â
o'really, "democrates obviously manipulated domenici into this womans panties"
newtster, "we gotta stop being the party of the horndogs"
@sargerator Yes sarg, because we all know the Republican party has the market cornered on dirtbag politicians.
I like how the rightwingnut commentors on here jumped all over edwards but....ya , ya, I know, edwards was just a horn dog, domenici was .....well....a caring horn dog with republiCON "family values"....ya , thats the difference !
I think the main difference was, Edwards wife was slow dying of cancer, while he was using his wishbone to make a love-baby.
And welcome to the republican reality show.
They should be designated with an "F" and not an "R" or "D" before their names. Appears more like It's fornication hill, not capitol hill !
Well, isn't having several families Republican family values?
I looked up "hypocrite" in the dictionary yesterday and it said "See conservative Republican". Makes sense.Â
When he was in Congress, former Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) racked up an impressive record of opposing every bit of LGBT-related legislation that came up. He voted for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. He twice voted against the Hate Crimes Act. He voted for DOMA. He voted against ENDA. He earned 0% ratings from both the HRC and ACLU, which made him proud.
Because, you know,Jesus and all that good stuff.
But one thing Domenici didn't oppose was some sack time with the daughter of another Senator.
Senatus Populusque Americanas
This is why Republicans and conservatives in general need to stop preaching morality and stick to principles of liberty and fiscal responsibility. They do a good job at that. When it comes to the human condition, they are as their opponents and as all Americans.
@Playanekes "stick to principles of liberty and fiscal responsibility. They do a good job at that."
Really, REALLY, you did hear about  the "patriot act" (the most intrusive laws every past to watch US citizens), 2 unfunded off budget (1.6 trillion dollar) wars WHILE enacting 2 of the largest tax breaks in history (especially for the uber wealthy) while defunding and hog tying the sec and fbi on regulating the crooked financial thieves....right ??
Ya, real fiscal responsibility and liberty
@Playanekes we don't live in the 50's anymore, so they too need to change with the times.  the constant preaching of morality from the right will keep me from ever voting for them. Â
I thought that was Mike Rice, the trailblazer commentator for a minute
WOW. I really feel sorry for Mrs. Domenici and the kids. To think that one is going into their golden years, only to find out that there is an illegitimate child in the wings just says how secretive and self-righteous the politicians can be.Â
Makes me distrust them all the more.Â
I guess a lie by omission is not a lie, and it is OK if you quick make a confession atter 34 years when you about to get caught.
Nothing like this has ever happened before. I guess that's why this is news.
@HenryBowman It's news when one of your own holier than thou,morally superior Christian republican politicians turns out to be a elfin hypocrite (as usual)
@noneofyourbizzness @HenryBowman That's a politicians!!! Get over it!!!
@noneofyourbizzness @HenryBowman Bullseye.