Bush Orders Documents From Rep. Jefferson's Office Sealed

Fox News ^ | Thursday, May 25, 2006 | Greg Simmons

[cougar_mccxxi]

WASHINGTON — President Bush stepped into the Justice Department's constitutional confrontation with Congress on Thursday and ordered that documents seized in an FBI search of a congressman's office be sealed for 45 days.

"The Department of Justice's search was part of an important investigation of alleged public corruption. At the same time, the bipartisan leadership of the House of Representatives believe the search violated the constitutional principle of separation of powers and the speech and debate clause of the Constitution," according to the president's statement.

[GladesGuru]

"I vote first on character. "

Careful there, brownsfan.

Remember which President campaigned on "character", made lots of statements to the effect of "I want to be judged on my character", ad nauseam?

That's right, it WAS Jimmy Carter.

Character is less important than a commitment to the Constitution and its limitations on government.

[IamConservative]

Bush is doing the right thing. The courts can decide who is right and the evidence will most likely be used. It's a healthy respect shown for Congress' claim.

With any luck, since Bush is involved, maybe the press will bash him daily for obstructing the FBI in the investiagation OF A FELONIOUS, CORRUPT, BRIBE TAKING RAT for 45 more days.

[mrsmith]

"If Clinton did something like this, we would be screaming bloody murder."

If Reno had searched Delay or Gingrich's office I'd like to think Freepers would be "screaming bloody murder".

But apparently not.

[Williams]

The president did not stop the investigation of anyone. He took the Congressional claim seriously and sealed the documents for 45 days, until a court can decide if Congress' claim has any validity. That IS the rule of law. Jefferson's investigation certainly can wait 45 days and it sounds like he is totally nailed already on other evidence.

[Wurlitzer]

"This is on the same plane as the Patrick Kennedy assertion that he was heading to a vote when he crashed."

Exactly "brownsfan"! My thoughts when I heard this were: If he was so drunk or stoned to be driving like he did then how did he have the presence of mind to play his "get out of jail free" card.

[blaquebyrd]

"The president did not stop the investigation of anyone. He took the Congressional claim seriously and sealed the documents for 45 days, until a court can decide if Congress' claim has any validity. That IS the rule of law. Jefferson's investigation certainly can wait 45 days and it sounds like he is totally nailed already on other evidence."

Wait=stop. Those sealed records can not be viewed by the investigators for at least 45 days. So as it relates to investigating those records the investigation has been stopped.

[Williams]

big deal.

[DoctorMichael]

More 'new tone in Washington' crap from the President.

[blaquebyrd]

You raised the point.

[Williams]

45 days re one part of the evidence is insignificant. They will not indict the guy for a year anyway.

[blaquebyrd]

"45 days re one part of the evidence is insignificant."

So now you know the significance of the evidence? Whatever it is Denny sure thought it was significant enough to side with Pelosi and the CBC against a republican president.

[Williams]

My friend, neither one of us knows the significance of that evidence. A 45 day delay in reviewing the evidence is not going to be crucial to anything. The Congressman is a crook not a terrorist mastermind. They have the evidence so it isn't going anywhere. They will see the evidence unless a court rules otherwise (in which case the Congressional claim was valid). I know you want the president to use that evidence today and not a few weeks from now, but the sun will still come up in the morning either way.

[blaquebyrd]

No I wanted the president to stay out of it and let the system run its' course. If Hastert, Pelosi and the CBC made good on their threat to take it to the Supremes so be it. That's the way precedents are set. Really with me it's more about equal justice than the significance of the sealed evidence. I'm sure Duke Cunningham would've appreciated 45 extra days of freedom.

[brownsfan]

"Character is less important than a commitment to the Constitution and its limitations on government."

I would submit that a politician of character would take that stance. Character is a pretty broad brush.

Your example isn't the best. Jimmy Carter proved over and over that he lacks character.

I can't know conclusively if a person has character. Or if they really are conservative. Or any number of things about the person running for office. But I can go by what they say, and not give them a second chance if they prove they are not trustworthy.

[GladesGuru]

"Your example isn't the best. Jimmy Carter proved over and over that he lacks character."

Actually, I used Possum Man as an example specifically because Carter did make character a central issue in his campaign. He based a campaign of that which he both misrepresented and had little to none of.

In that sense, he was similar to Kerry and his war medals. Too bad for the Western World that there was no Swift Boat Vets group to torpedo Carter's campaign.

[SoCar]

Everyone settle down - this was a brilliant political move by the President. He effectively took this story off the front page, saved idiots like Haskert from self-distructing, and allows the search to stand. Time will show that this move was the right one. Nice move Mr. President.

I hope you are right. I have lost some of my unwavering faith in the President the last few weeks. I still want to believe though. I hate that I am getting somewhat cynical.