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There is an historical point to be made. The House is the "people's house". The "executive" or the "judicial" has no right to invade or search the people, their "house" has to be jealously guarded. (Remember that now you can indict a "ham sandwich") The Brit's love of pomp and circumstance sometime serves as a good object lesson. They slam the door in the face of the King/Queen. In the time of the colonies, it was procedure to search without cause the members of the local governments. King Charles I did it to Parliament. To search a congressional office (the only government body which was originally elected directly by the people until the XVII Amendment) would be the same as spying on "the people". The precedent exists to protect the "business of the people" and not meant to put Congress above the law.

Precisely!

Thanks for posting this good explanation of the issues at hand.