Former Republican New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici fathered a son outside his marriage more than 30 years ago with the daughter of another former senator, Domenici acknowledged on Wednesday. “I deeply regret this and am very sorry for my behavior,” Domenici said in a statement to the Albuquerque Journal. “I hope New Mexicans will view that my accomplishments for my beloved state outweigh my personal transgression.” The 80-year-old, six-term senator said his family had known about the child for several months and that he has “apologized as best I can” to his wife. The mother of the child, Michelle Laxalt, also released a statement, saying, “One night’s mistake led to pregnancy more than 30 years ago.” Laxalt is a former government relations consultant and TV political commentator in Washington, DC, according to the Journal. She is also the daughter of former Republican Sen. Paul Laxalt. Domenici and Lexalt’s child, now grown, is a lawyer in Las Vegas. His firm’s website says he is a former naval officer who served in Iraq.
