[joe fonebone]

legalized corruption......

[MizSterious]

So, someone in congress can rob a bank, and hide the money in his office, and it’s off-limits? Is that how this works?

[SeaHawkFan]

Prosecutors have said they can proceed to trial without waiting for the contested documents.

That's the bottom line. Looks to me that with the executive branch and Congress negotiating, there is no reason, YET, for the court to take the case.

[gondramB]

>>The court declined to review an appeals court ruling that the FBI reviewed legislative documents in the office of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., in violation of the Constitution.<<

This is very bad.

[Mister Da]

This make me wonder why any of us should obey the law! Why bother, when our lawmakers are so corrupt & above the law.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander!

arrrrrgh!

[stylin19a]

It's not as bad as it seems.

Justice wanted a broader interpretation than the appeals gave.

The essence is buried in the article

The appeals court did not say lawmakers would need to have advance notice of the FBI's arrival.
Rather, the court said the Justice Department can't broadly review legislative records.

[xzins]

Cowardly Scotus ruling.

The Constitution clearly says that the protection of a congressman is in regard to legitimate duties. It specifically says that a congressman is liable for illegal behavior.

So, using an extreme example, if Jefferson had chopped up his wife and hid her pieces in his refrigerator, then the law has no recourse?

That is ridiculous, and it highlights Scotus’ cowardice.

[VRWCmember]

At issue is a constitutional provision known as the speech or debate clause, which protects elected officials from being questioned by the president, a prosecutor or a plaintiff in a lawsuit about their legislative work.

The question for the court was whether the protection also applies to searches.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said it does.

Here is what the "speech and debate clause" actually states:

They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
-- Article I, Section 5 (emphasis added)

To suggest, as the court apparently has, that this extends to an exemption from searches of their offices pursuant to duly obtained and executed search warrants is simply ludicrous on its entire face. The intent of the speeches and debates clause was to prevent the use of arrests to interfere with members of Congress in their ability to attend sessions of congress. A search of a congress member's office, pursuant to a warrant in a criminal case (and if bribery isn't a felony it certainly should be) would clearly not be subject to the "privilege from arrest" clause as the privilege is not extended in the cases of Treason, Felony, and Breach of the Peace".

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

["The bottom line is that, if the government cannot search a member's office in the manner authorized by the search warrant here ... the government cannot do so in any meaningful manner and congressional offices may become a 'sanctuary for crime,'" the Justice Department said."]

Isn't that convenient.

[mwilli20]

At issue is a constitutional provision known as the speech or debate clause, which protects elected officials from being questioned by the president, a prosecutor or a plaintiff in a lawsuit about their legislative work.

What the HE** does this have to do with the case at hand?

Answering my own question: About as much as "Congress shall make no law regarding an establishment of religion..." has to do with banning prayer in schools...

What a bunch of garbage!

[Bommer]

At issue is a constitutional provision known as the speech or debate clause, which protects elected officials from being questioned by the president, a prosecutor or a plaintiff in a lawsuit about their legislative work.

So being a corrupt crook IS part of the job! Got it! Time to start running for office....and shopping for a new freezer!

[Candor7]

Hey, if the FBI can't execute search warrants on a Congressional Office, then YOU KNOW that the CIA and NSA will take care of any international fraud, treason and sedition , bribing kickback intrigue , perpetrated by sitting members of Congress.

Then Pricks like Jefferson will simply dissappear while on a trip abroad, expire due to food poisoning , or have a terminal plane crash.

But then thats the way the Dem congress wants it.So be it.