July 24, 2006 /

The Jefferson Dilemma

Well someone is out to protect someone now: House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Sunday he may challenge a judge’s order allowing FBI agents to examine documents seized at a Louisiana congressman’s Capitol Hill office in a bribery probe. Hastert said he believed Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was “in big trouble” and that the House would […]

Well someone is out to protect someone now:

House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Sunday he may challenge a judge’s order allowing FBI agents to examine documents seized at a Louisiana congressman’s Capitol Hill office in a bribery probe.

Hastert said he believed Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was “in big trouble” and that the House would not be joining in support of Jefferson himself. But he said the House separately might seek to make clear its position that the Justice Department cannot randomly and wantonly search lawmakers’ offices.

Of  course Hastert is out to make sure he don’t fall to a raid.

Actually I am mixed on this. This ruling does give the executive branch extra power over the legislative. What we need is a similar law that would allow the legislative branch to execute search warrants on the executive branch. The White House refuses to answer questions or subpoenas, yet they have this extraordinary power over the legislative? Of course these are search warrants that must be signed off by a judge, but that is rather simple.

So to sum it up – I can see Hastert’s point, but I can also see the point in the side of law. If someone is suspected of breaking a law and a judge signs off for a warrant then fine, it should be executed. We however need the same to apply to the executive branch.

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