Congress Tells Court That Congress Can’t Be Investigated for Insider Trading

The//Intercept ^ | May 7, 2015 | By Lee Fang

[Brad from Tennessee]

In a little-noticed brief filed last summer, lawyers for the House of Representatives claimed that an SEC investigation of congressional insider trading should be blocked on principle, because lawmakers and their staff are constitutionally protected from such inquiries given the nature of their work.

The legal team led by Kerry W. Kircher, who was appointed House General Counsel by Speaker John Boehner in 2011, claimed that the insider trading probe violated the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branch.

In 2012, members of Congress patted themselves on the back for passing the STOCK Act, a bill meant to curb insider trading for lawmakers and their staff. “We all know that Washington is broken and today members of both parties took a big step forward to fix it,” said Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, upon passage of the law.

But as the Securities and Exchange Commission made news with the first major investigation of political insider trading, Congress moved to block the inquiry. . .

[gdani]

And yet there are still people who refuse to believe the deck is stacked (in many ways) against us ordinary folk.

[Safetgiver]

They should be investigated, violators arrested and imprisoned for LONG terms.... I agree. By Whom?

[LucyT]

Congress Tells Court That Congress Can’t Be Investigated for Insider Trading

!

.

[OneWingedShark]

CWII Spark Ping — The_Media_never_lie: “This is just damn pure corruption. Our rulers are above the law, and they are waving it in our faces.”

[no-to-illegals]

Stay Alive and Shake It ....

[Old Yeller]

What are these lifetime losers going to rule when theres no more country to rule?

[OneWingedShark]

But remember, it was SO important to vote for the RINO or else the Dem would win.

Yep.
How Five Republicans Let Congress Keep Its Fraudulent Obamacare Subsidies

[no-to-illegals]

after midnight they bite? It’s just enough to make it Not three letters .... Hint, dance with SoX, ah come on ... ain’t Nasty!

[no-to-illegals]

Republican In Name Only ... and they said that began with an ‘S’ and was usual.

[OneWingedShark]

Republican In Name Only ... and they said that began with an ‘S’ and was usual.

I hate to break it to you, but Republican In Name Only is you and I — constitutionalist voters who have a chance of voting for someone other than The Guy With The (R)™.
Boehner, McCain, McConnell, and all these jerks — they are the true face of the Republican party.

[no-to-illegals]

yes, we became tender and they set us on fire .... wonder if they think we are still their spirits?

[RedHeeler]

Good.

[OneWingedShark]

I honestly have no idea — at this point I have my doubts that they see anything other than their own desire for power.

[no-to-illegals]

My agreement OneWing!

[no-to-illegals]

yes, it is a fear of life ...

[DoughtyOne]

It’s imploding now.

[SgtHooper]

Let’s broaden that out a bit to hold accountable any government entity and it agents, employees, etc., by immediately freezing all accounts and assets of at least the individuals involved until such time they are proven innocent.

There needs to be a different standard for those in power.

[Darksheare]

Notice how the strident “You must vote for the RINO” types are quiet at the moment.

[Jacquerie]

<>I wonder how much longer it will be before the American experiment implodes.<>

As in free government, consent of the governed? It is gone.

Article V before we can’t.

[Jacquerie]

<>The only safe recourse to congressional corruption is for the people to throw the rascals out.<>

I disagree. We have sent dozens of conservatives to congress only to find most go wobbly if not rino. Clearly, our ruling institutions have been corrupted from their 1787 purpose.

It is way past time to restore congress, and that means returning to federalism. Repeal the 17A via Article V before we can’t.