Former Speaker Newt Gingrich led the charge of loud howls over the FBI raid in a congressman’s office: "The protection of the legislative branch from the executive branch's policing powers is a fundamental principle which goes all the way back to the English Civil War."
Never mind the matter of existing evidence of a crime having been committed. Never mind that the House Ethics Committee has been asleep at the wheel for 16 long months. No, this hallowed precinct is obviously beyond the law, as Gingrich and others see it.
"The president should respond accordingly and should discipline (probably fire) whoever exhibited this extraordinary violation," he wrote.
According to reports, House officials were given short notice of the FBI's intentions Saturday, and neither Jefferson's attorney, Robert Trout, nor the general counsel of the House were allowed to monitor the search.
"The government's actions in obtaining a search warrant to search the offices of a United States congressman were outrageous," Trout said in a statement. "There were no exigent circumstances necessitating this action."
I guess Trout would be one of those holding the view that there were no exigent circumstances necessitating any action against the buildings inhabitants.
Charles Tiefer, a law professor at the University of Baltimore who served as solicitor and deputy general counsel of the House for 11 years, said the incident "raises some serious separation of powers questions when extraordinarily harsh and extreme tactics are used on the legislative branch."
Tiefer said the raid could set a chilling precedent. Like more congressmen being made to answer for their lack of probity, for their separation from reality.
Zen and the Art of Motor Cycle Maintenance
5 weeks ago
5 comments:
"Never mind the matter of existing evidence of a crime having been committed."
Okay, okay, we'll not say a word about you and the altar boy. Just please shut the fuck up, or we'll tattletale on you asap.
I just love it when gutless individuals have their say, but are too transparent to put a name.
Are you sure you're in the right blog? The stand up comedians are somewhere else.
Get a life you anonymous little mother fucker.
I left something like 10 of these gutless anonymous slurs up. They don't do anything for or to me, but they speak volumes about their pathetic author.
Anonymous was so clever with his slur. Boy, I wish I could be that clever.
BTW, it is interesting that both Gingrich and Hastert criticized the FBI's search of Jefferson's office. Just goes to show they want to protect their privileges more than attack the other party or undercut the Dems' Culture of Corruption meme.
RBE, I was fascinated that the comments came from the Repubs. Wasn't really sure what to make of it.
'Methinks thou dost protest too much..."? or "Please don't start a precedent of investigating us...?"
I can appreciate the Dems keeping quiet, but only up to the point that they haven't cut the man loose.
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