And apparently the White House is siding with the TSA.:
“White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday that he didn’t have any reaction to Paul’s “police state” comments.
But Carney sided with the TSA saying, “I think it is absolutely essential that we take necessary actions to ensure that air travel is safe.”
I guess that isn’t the first time the White House has failed to recognize the Constitution:
Article 1, Section 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.
Hell, the WH and DHS/Napolitano have probably put out a standing, secret order to harass GOP pols, particularly the alleged conservative ones.
The TSA and their boss in the White House could not possibly care less about the Constitution!
There is a VERY important reason for that clause as well... Do you know if Rand Paul specifically mentioned that section of the Constitution? It would be wise for him to do so. Was there a vote, or even a meeting that he missed as a result of this “custodial detention” of a sitting Congressman? The reason the section exists is so that politicians can’t trump up inane charges against each other to prevent testimony or votes on specific issues in Congress.
This is much more serious in the case of Rand Paul than a violation of his basic 4th Amendment Rights - what he seems to be complaining about on behalf of all Americans which I am definitely grateful for.
I’m sure he doesn’t want to appear to be singling himself out for special treatment - however, according to the Constitution as an elected member of Congress those ARE his rights accorded to him in order to assure the performance of his duties of office. They had no right to prevent him from boarding that plane unless they could prove he committed a felony. Of course, had he refused to sit where they told him I suppose they could argue that it was a “breach of peace” on his part.
Anyway, I do think Rand Paul should make special note of the allocations made for Congressmen in regards to the law as written in the Constitution, alongside his complaints on behalf of his constituents.
It is my dearest hope that once this regime is ousted and Carney is traveling as a private citizen, he gets a full body cavity search. To ensure that air travel is safe, of course.