FORMER NEW MEXICO SENATOR PETE DOMENICI TELLS THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL THAT HE FATHERED A SON 30 YEARS AGO OUTSIDE OF HIS MARRIAGE. DOMENICI AND THE SON'S MOTHER, MICHELLE LAXALT OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, SAY THE SON IS ADAM PAUL LAXALT, A LAS VEGAS ATTORNEY.
DOMENICI, WHO SERVED SIX TERMS IN THE U-S SENATE, APOLOGIZES TO HIS WIFE AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS FOR THE HURT AND DISAPPOINTMENT THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS CAUSED THEM.
LAXALT SAYS SHE AND DOMENICI KEPT THE FATHERHOOD A SECRET FOR YEARS BECAUSE DOMENICI AND HER FATHER, NEVADA REPUBLICAN PAUL LAXALT, WERE BOTH IN THE SENATE. SHE SAYS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SOMEONE WOULD "SHOP A STORY" TO THE MEDIA TO SMEAR DOMENICI.