Judge: FBI raid on lawmaker's office legal (Louisiana Democrat Rep. William Jefferson )

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/10/06 | Toni Locy - ap

[newzjunkey]

Not a surprise here.

[RobRoy]

This last week has been an incredible legal boon to conservatism. It's kinda weird. It is as though the drugs of the 60's finally wore off.

I suspect it is only temporary though - like a Mariners win.

[Mo1]

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas F. Hogan said members of Congress are not above the law

About time someone told Congress that

[chiller]

I hear strains of "Had a Bad Day" coming from the Dem. caucus room. More bad news for the bad guys.

[Rakkasan1]

isn't he also the judge that signed the warrant for the raid as well?

[Rakkasan1]

thanks, saw that after asking my question.

glad to see he doesn't overule himself.

[jazusamo]

Hopefully, some of the recent results are a reflection of the influx of conservatism on the federal bench.

[RobRoy]

I hope so. And it isn't just conservatism. It is maturity and clear thinking. I have felt about our government and courts lately that they make the kinds of decisions that would be made by judges elected from the pool of kids in Neverland. It is just not believeable what nonsensical decisions they would make.

[nopardons]

BTTT

[Perdogg]

Maybe, maybe not.

The Supreme's have already ruled in similar cases

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1638473/posts

“The immunities of the Speech or Debate Clause were not written into the Constitution simply for the personal or private benefit of Members of Congress, but to protect the integrity of the legislative process by insuring the independence of individual legislators.”

“In no case has this Court ever treated the Clause as protecting all conduct relating to the legislative process. 9 In every case thus far before this Court, the Speech or Debate Clause has been limited to an act which was [408 U.S. 501, 516] clearly a part of the legislative process - the due functioning of the process. 10 Appellee's contention for a broader interpretation of the privilege draws essentially on the flavor of the rhetoric and the sweep of the language used by courts, not on the precise words used in any prior case, and surely not on the sense of those cases, fairly read.”

“We recognize that the privilege against arrest is not identical with the Speech or Debate privilege, but it is closely related in purpose and origin. It can hardly be thought that the Speech or Debate Clause totally protects what the sentence preceding it has plainly left open to prosecution, i. e., all criminal acts.”

United States V Brewster, Per Curium decision 1971, Supreme Court Justice Burger (CJ)

[BigSkyFreeper]

William Jefferson (Democrat of Louisiana) BUMP! ~ PING!

[John Semmens]

Scandal Woes Likely to Benefit William Jefferson

Losing his seat on the influential Ways and Means Committee and being investigated in a federal bribery probe could actually benefit U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) in his bid for reelection, said Ken Moore, professor of political science at the University of Louisiana. "Being seen as a taker of bribes will probably help him with the typical Louisiana Democratic voter. Yielding to temptation makes him more human. Working the system to extract extra benefits makes him crafty. These are traits admired by the chiselers and parasites that comprise the voting base in this state."

According to Moore, the eight-term congressman is going to say: "I took these turkeys for plenty. I can do the same for the citizens of Louisiana. This is essential to relieving our people of the effort and expense of the Katrina cleanup."

"In Louisiana, corruption or bribery or incompetence has never been a bar to holding office -- or returning to office," Moore noted. In support of his contention, Moore pointed to the reelection of Ray Nagin as mayor of New Orleans. "Here we had a clueless boob responsible for untold suffering due to his incompetent handling of the Katrina disaster getting reelected by playing the 'race card.' The road map for Jefferson's reelection campaign has been clearly laid out for him."

read more...

http://www.azconservative.org/Column_Archives.htm

[jazusamo]

I have a feeling (but only a feeling) that by more conservative judges being appointed it has affected rulings by some of the fence sitters who in the past have fallen in line with liberals. The next couple years will tell the tale IMO.

[GOPologist]

Was William Jefferson Clinton named after the Congressman?

Billy seems to have acted like him.

[Michael.SF.]

a sad reflection indeed on the people of Louisiana

[AndyJackson]

two boxes of paper documents

Are there about 900 of those so-called "documents," clearly distinguished by a rather greenish picture of Ben Franklin on the obverse side.

[Panzerlied]

"This will have a chilling effect on us as we go about our duties as public servants.."

LOL Yeah! They'll have to be more circumspect when taking bribes!

[conservative blonde]

Good for Judge Hogan. He ruled correctly and surprised a few of us doubters that a Chief US District Judge could rule the right way.

[browardchad]

Funny stuff!

You half to admit that Dollar Bill did pull himself up from his modest beginnings. Why, he went from ripping off the LA poor as a slum landlord to ripping off wealthy entrepreneurs and African dictators as a member of the US Congress.

In New Orleans, that's progress!

[TET1968]

Now we have precedent.
Encore ! Encore!