Congresswoman Negotiating Whether to Cooperate with Investigation [semi-satire]

Semi-News/Semi-Satire ^ | 23 July 2017 | John Semmens

[John Semmens]

Former Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (Fla) is in the midst of deciding whether or not to cooperate with DC police investigating possible violations of national security laws by her former top information technology (IT) aide, Imran Awan. Awan and several of his relatives are accused of abusing access granted by their Democratic Party employers to obtain and sell classified information.

Thus far, Wasserman-Schultz has been refusing to turnover computers used by Awan so police can examine them. She has claimed exemption from law enforcement saying that "according to the Constitution, members of congress are privileged from arrest. I am not some ordinary bumpkin who can be compelled to undergo police investigation. I'm part of the government. I have superior rights."

The clause she cited may not be as broad an exemption as she imagines, though. The privilege from arrest applies only to attendance at a congressional session and the trip to and from that session. Further, there is no privilege in cases of "treason, felony, and breach of the peace." Inasmuch as hiring ITs who purloin classified information and sell it might reasonably constitute both treason and felony offenses, Wasserman-Schultz's obstruction of the investigation into these crimes would not seem to be privileged.

"Regardless of the nuances of the law, the computers are in my possession," the Congresswoman boasted. "Secretary Clinton was allowed to delete part of her emails and smash all her phones rather than be subjected to the kind of invasion of privacy they're trying to impose on me. As I see it, if they want to see these devices I need a non-revocable grant of full immunity. Then maybe I'll turn them over."

In related news, a new report released by the Treasury Inspector General of Tax Administration found that the IRS destroyed laptops containing critical records—even when those records were requested for use in pending litigation or criminal investigations. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen brushed off the findings as "old news. The expectation that the IRS could or should keep meticulous records is unwarranted. The volume of information is huge. The motivation to do quality work is nonexistent. The temptation to shirk and slack off is irresistible. The tax code is insanely complex. If Congress had any sense they'd repeal the whole damned mess."

if you missed any of this week's other semi-news/semi-satire posts you can find them at...

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php/topic,272810.msg1393699.html#msg1393699

[anton]

Where is that lazy coward Sessions in this. DC Police? We might as well have her investigated by the crossing guards at St. Margaret’s School for the Deaf.

[tennmountainman]

The DC police?

Why isn’t the FBI involved?

[mosaicwolf]

FBI Is involved from what I understand. They seized destroyed hard drives from Ms Debbie’s home.

[untenured]

More to the point, why does John Koskinen still have a job? Neither Congress, which could impeach him, nor the president, who could fire him, seem much interested in this question.