Replies

But he had to stand up for the Constitution and the House.
The "Speech and Debate" clause goes back to the English Bill of Rights of 1689 and is a tenet in every legislature of English descent: "That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament".

And it's better that he stand up and look like he's doing something than leave it to the courts and look useless. Besides Pelosi could probably pull some grandstand stunt. Though I don't know what, the media would try to let her get away with anything she wanted.

But he had to stand up for the Constitution and the House.

Baloney. He has no legal leg to stand on. Congressmen are not immune from lawfully issued criminal warrants. Show me anywhere in the constitution where such a priviledge exists and I'll eat the whole document.

Hastert got some complaints from some worried congressmen and he made this stink to keep his job. It makes him and everyone in congress look like crooks.

Nixon tried this with against a congressional subpoena. He lost. Despite his protestations to the contrary, he LOOKED like a crook. He shall forever be known as a crook.

Hastert has set himself up for the same image, especially if we find out there are other crooks like Jefferson in congress. And there are. On both sides of the aisle.