WASHINGTON — Pete Domenici, a longtime Republican senator from New Mexico, yesterday acknowledged that he had a secret love child more than 30 years ago with the daughter of his Senate colleague, Paul Laxalt of Nevada.
The stunning revelation comes just a week after another lawmaker — Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee — acknowledged he secretly had a child out of wedlock three years ago, after contacting his daughter on Twitter during the State of the Union.
“More than 30 years ago, I fathered a child outside my marriage,” Domenici told the Albuquerque Journal, saying he feared someone was going to reveal the secret. “I deeply regret this and am very sorry for my behavior. I hope New Mexicans will view that my accomplishments for my beloved state outweigh my personal transgression.”
Domenici, who served as a top Republican on the Energy, Budget, and Appropriations committees, hooked up with Laxalt’s daughter, Michelle Laxalt, who is now a well-known lobbyist in DC. Their son, Adam Paul, was born in August 1978, four years after Michelle’s dad joined the Senate.
Domenici served six terms in the Senate before leaving at the end of his term in 2008. He has eight children with his wife, Nancy.