Posted on 05/28/2006 6:35:29 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
WASHINGTON — The constitutional showdown that followed the FBI's search of a congressman's office came down to this: The House threatened budgetary retaliation against the Justice Department. Justice officials raised the prospect of resigning.
That scenario, as described Saturday by a senior administration official, set the stage for President Bush's intervention into the fight over the FBI's search of the office of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., an eight-term lawmaker being investigated on bribery allegations.
During contentious conversations between the Department of Justice and the House, top law enforcement officials indicated that they'd rather quit than return documents FBI agents, armed with a warrant, seized in an overnight search of Jefferson's office, the administration official said.
Until last Saturday night, no such warrant had ever been used to search a lawmaker's office in the 219-year history of the Congress. FBI agents carted away records in their pursuit of evidence that Jefferson accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for helping set up business deals in Africa.
After the raid, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, lodged a protest directly with Bush, demanding that the FBI return the materials. Bush struck a compromise Thursday, ordering that the documents be sealed for 45 days until congressional leaders and the Justice Department agree on what to do with them.
(Story continues below)
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
You almost have it...add in selling state secrets to foreign governments...
Great! Then the President can refuse to provide federal security of any kind for House members, and stop all briefings of Congress on matters of defense or intelligence, both foreign and domestic. Bring it on you corrupt cossaks!
It would seem that this has never come up before because no Congressman had ever pushed it this far, by refusing to cooperate with a legitimate criminal investigation. I think this is because Jefferson knows that he can be a crook and still be reelected by using the race card.
Agreed 100%. Before I heard about the threat to withhold funding I respected and applauded their stand. Now that respect and applause are tripled.
They are full of it. In 1972 there was a court ruling(because of a similar case) that specifically states that the congress can be searched and the debate clause is not aimmunity clause. If this has never happened before why is there a court ruling that speicfically addresses the problem?
I'm a pretty optimistic gal by nature- but what I'm seeing now is truly beyond anything I can remember since the Viet Nam years. The disconnect is alarming.
What brought it into focus was hearing Rush discussing what McCain told a gathering of GOP fundraisers last week (paraphrasing)..that if it weren't for the likes of Rush, Lou Dobbs, etc..this bill would pass easily into law. What's SO sickening here- is that McCain does not realize that Rush, Dobbs etc are simply EDUCATING listeners to facts..facts McCain and his gang have obviously not WANTED the American public to know.
On Memorial Day weekend it seems we mourn our lost country as well as those lost in battle.
Bought himself another 45 days, at least.
Or should I say "Hastert provided for him"
After the raid, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, lodged a protest directly with Bush, demanding that the FBI return the materials.
Hmmm, I wonder what the DemonRats have on Denny Hastert. His FBI file must've been interesting reading for Billary and the congressional DemonRat brass.
So according to Hastert, a Congressman under investigation can hide documents in his office?
An interesting tidbit for those who claim that the DOJ was "threatening the President" with resignations.
I think Hastert has 434 colleagues that think the same way
When it's a regular citizen, it's okay to burn his house down with him inside while the federal marshalls and fire department sit there and watch.
Or put another way, what secret cash stash is HE hiding in his office?
It's the GOP just supporting crooks again. I have had enough of both parties.
They don't have a way. The Republicans haven't had a leader in years. The person who should be leading them is too busy trying to make friends with the Democrats. Any time someone appears to begin to lead them many of the other Republicans, with the help of Democrats, manage to drum him out of politics. I'm beginning to think that the party is going to continue to out Dem the Democrats until they become extinct.
Well put, SE Mom.
Props to Diogenesis
bttt
It looks like July 4 may come early this year, and may God help the Republic.
No one is spying on 'the little guy'.
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