Hastert Demands FBI Return Documents

CNSnews ~ LA Times ^ | May 24, 2006 | Laurie Kellman

[Miss_Reagan]

House Speaker Dennis Hastert demanded Wednesday that the FBI surrender documents it seized and remove agents involved in the weekend raid of Rep. William Jefferson's office, under what lawmakers of both parties said were unconstitutional circumstances.

"We think those materials ought to be returned," Hastert said, adding that the FBI agents involved "ought to be frozen out of that (case) just for the sake of the constitutional aspects of it."

The Saturday night search of Jefferson's office on Capitol Hill brought Democrats and Republicans together in rare election-year accord, with both parties protesting agency conduct they said violated the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine.

[eureka!]

Trolls don't vote for any GOPers...

[P-40]

Thanks. But I do stand by the threat of Formosan Termites in Louisiana being a threat to cash that is not stored in a cold environment, like a freezer. :)

[Peach]

I was wondering if Delay would have let things get this far too. And if a judge grants an appeal, I'll be stunned.

I thought we were the law and order party; this is the dumbest thing I've seen Republicans do in a looong time.

[SE Mom]

Nice catch DB!!

I called my Representative this afternoon- spoke with one of the women in the office...she is equally baffled by the reaction of Hastert and the Gang.

[badgerlandjim]

BS to the Congress. Where was the outcry when everbody wanted the Nixon tapes turned over?

[jocko12]

Term limit sounds better all the time.

[Peach]

Thank you for calling, SE Mom. It's about all we can do.

[stevio]

And a Republican "leader" comes to the crooked Rat's defense and steals the headlines we were getting.

It's not called "The Stupid Party" for nothing. I'm starting to believe they want the Rats to win in November.

[You Dirty Rats]

I would have approved Reno personally strip-searching Newt in his office.

Okay, okay, I can see you have a strong opinion on the subject -- but did you HAVE to inflict that visual on us?

[Common Tator]

I've seen Republicans

Anyone besides Hastert run off at the mouth about this being unconstitutional? Or is Hastert up to his Hastert all by himself?

[stands2reason]

So, what do you think about this news?

[pollyannaish]

And with that, I am here to offer you a hearty welcome to FreeRepublic.

[dogbyte12]

I agree with Hastert reluctantly. The problem is that the House is not policing itself with the ethics committee. There is a seperation of powers issue here. But until congress does something like expel Jefferson, these FBI raids are bound to happen.

[pollyannaish]

Of course. But can you name any currently in Congress?

[lilylangtree]

Hastert, you spineless POS. The man's guilty as h*ll. He bloody well was videotaped. FBI had probable cause. Congress is NOT above the law. And people wonder why Congress isn't to be trusted.

[California Patriot]

"called my representative this afternoon -- spoke with one of the women in the office ... she is equally baffled ..."

Nice going, "Mom." One advantage of calling and speaking to an actual person is that it becomes real for the individual you're speaking to. Who is in the environment directly and can contribute to the opinion in that environment. You may not change a congressman's mind, but you might change the aide's, or you can keep her morale up if she's on our side already. And that makes a difference.

[Prost1]

Just emailed Hastert with a blistering message.

I normally do not send emails to "elected officials" because they think they are above the law, but for the Speaker of the House to insist that they are above the law is beyond the pale.

[stands2reason]

I'm beginning to think these guys don't want to win.

This is getting ridiculous. The R's in congress should have kept their mouths shut. Now the MSM leads with their quotes and then "forgets" to name Jefferson's party.

Good going, fellas.

[Map Kernow]

The wheels are coming off the Federal government: executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It's what happens when none of them bother to follow a "scrap of paper" known as the Constitution. And, as any true "grassroots conservative" knows, it's what should happen.

[Beagle8U]

Hasert and Frist have done nothing to defend some slime ball Rat, caught with his hand in the cookie jar. They said what they have to defend their own power.

Any business manager of a department would do the same.

You have to defend your authority to discipline those under you, you never want outsiders going over your head. If you allow that, they will soon take all your power over everything.

House or Senate leadership is much the same as being a department manager, you don't defend some puke, you defend YOUR right to fire them! Any effective manager would understand what I'm talking about. You don't let someone else do your job, if you do they will soon have it!

In politics, a leader may have 49% pukes that he wants to fire, but to protect the 51% you have to maintain your right to fire them.

Thats all this is IMHO.