Poor idiot Republicans. Denny Hastert really knows how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Republicans could have just stayed quiet on this matter, and simply said "we have nothing to hide in our offices."
Republicans could have let the Democrats complain about the raid, making them look even more guilty. Instead Republicans got out in front of the Democrats on this, creating a perception of the powerful protecting the powerful and Congress being above the law, and at the same time making Jefferson and the Democrats look like victims of the eeeeeeevil Bush administration, and Republicans, by proxy.
What could have been a story of Democrat corruption all summer long and right up to the election will now be a story of "unconstitutional" raids by the Bush administration. The media has managed to make terrorists at GitMo "victims" of Bush, and thanks to House Republicans, they will do the same of poor little William Jefferson.
Well way to go Denny! It was nice knowing you as Speaker.
The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United 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.
However, I believe that there is also nothing in the Constitution about "executive privilege" and that courts have upheld certain forms of executive privilege in the past based upon a separation of powers argument. The Justices may be concerned about having their own offices searched some day. So, I think it is highly uncertain how the Supreme Court will rule. If there is an "executive privilege", then why not a "legislative privilege" and a "judicial privilege"?
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. I believe the administration's action is constitutional and will be upheld by the court, but given the reaction of both Hastert and Boehner, it sounds like it was unwise to do so without greater consultation with the majority leadership.