Separation Anxiety
I know this is a bit late in the game, but I don't understand why Congress is whining about the search of Jefferson's offices. Just pass a law!!! At least YOU have that option. We, on the other hand, don't get Qwest.
posted by Armen Adzhemyan at 8:30 AM
3 Comments:
Naturally Congress is going to oppose FBI investigation into a congressperson's office--why would Congress support restricting its own rights? That'd be the equivalent of it adequately representing the will of the American people, faithfully executing its duty as a representative body, and actually, fairly, legally, abiding by its constitutional mandate.
Oh wait. R-controlled. They don't do that, do they.
I think there is a separation of powers issue here. We simply can't have the executive barging into Congresspeople's offices all the time. It's intimidation by the executive, something that is all too common these days. Perhaps keeping the executive branch's goons off Capitol Hill isn't technically covered by the Speech or Debate Clause but it's certainly within the spirit of the Clause.
By the way, word is that top Rs on the Hill were about to demand AG Gonzalez's resignation before the White House went into crisis management mode. Looks like he may have finally messed with the wrong people.
On the flip side, Gonzales, Muller, and some other guy all threatened to resign if Bush caved and just handed it back. Hence the cool-off period.
Honestly though, if the FBI really does have the guy on video taking bribes, I don't see how either party can justify turning their offices into safe havens for corruption. Even lawyers, with all the attorney-client magic can't do that. Neither can priests, doctors, shrinks, or anybody else. There may be a special master process for those, but the point is, Congress is trying to place itself above the law - even Nixon had to turn over his tapes, after all.
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