So you choose to invoke the democracy argument, also known as mob rule. If the vast overwhelming majority of members in a lynch mob support a lynching then it must be okay.
We live in a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy, with due process and separation of powers designed to trump the passions of the moment.
President Bush impounded the seized papers because he understood the checks and balances involved were both credible and real.
With their misplaced prosecutorial overzealousness the Justice Department has now compromised a perfectly legitimate investigation and allowed yet another DemocRAT to escape the consequence of his mischief and mayhem.
A good time was had by all.
Best regards
We do indeed live in a Constitutional Republic and the Constitution of the United States specifically addresses the issue that the separation of powers doctrine does NOT give a Congressman immunity from criminal law.
Section 6, Article 1, of the Constitution:
"Sec. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, EXCEPT Treason, FELONY, and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House they shall not be questioned in any other Place."
The issue has also been specifically addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court:
Taking bribes is a felony and, therefore, the very words of the Constitution strip this Congressman of any claim to constitutional immunity from the investigative process, arrest, incarceration, prosecution and potential sentencing associated with such a felony.
"With their misplaced prosecutorial overzealousness the Justice Department has now compromised a perfectly legitimate investigation and allowed yet another DemocRAT to escape the consequence of his mischief and mayhem."
I am not so sure about that. The Justice Department was doing their job. That does not mean that Jefferson's case is lost or won. It also does not mean that the Justice Department was overzealous, nor that their prosecutorial stance was misplaced.