Yea, congress itself.
If members of congress can't be protected from breaking laws, then how are they supposed to be corrupt?
Does congress have a procedure it would recommend or legislation it would suggest (or any laws on the books) about how to proceed if a legislative official is using or hiding evidence of corruption in their office?
They hold committee meetings to share information on how all of them can practice such bitchin' and righteous procedures.
Yea, congress itself." Gov. William J. Le Petomane said it best: ... We've got to protect our phoney-baloney jobs!
The narrative of the Jefferson case is now going to be "Corrupt Congressman's Office Raided, Top House Republicans Outraged, Fear They May Be Next."
What could have knocked down the Democrats' charge of a "culture of corruption" has instead reinforced it.
Unbelievable.
The issue is not about corruption. It is about the Constitution and the separation of powers doctrine. Newt Gingrich slammed the Justice Department for an egregious violation of this doctrine: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0506/052206cdpm1.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/22/AR2006052201080_pf.html
The actions by the FBI and Justice Department is unprecedented in the 219-year history of the U.S. government. It was exactly this kind of abuse of the colonial legislatures by King George's stooges that partly led to a revolution in 1776.
Between the three branches of government, there is a long established procedure for obtaining documents in a criminal probe: the subpeona. Has anyone ever heard of Congress sending its police agents to the White House or Supreme Court with a warrant to conduct a search? When the Executive Branch sends its police into the House of Representatives with a warrant to conduct a search by its police agents, the long-term repercussions could be detrimental to the Republic.