Hastert Blasts FBI Raid On Rep. Jefferson's Office

[Rose Siding]

Hastert Blasts FBI Raid On Rep. Jefferson's Office
First it was Newt Gingrich, who on Sunday e-mailed friends his outrage that the FBI raided the congressional offices of Rep. William Jefferson.

Today, mostly Dems issued statements saying (a) while Jefferson should be held accountable for his actions, (b) the FBI dangerously eroded the separation between the executive and legislative branches.

Now, Speaker Dennis Hastert (R) weighs in:

"It is the duty of the Justice Department to root out and prosecute corruption wherever it is found, including in the U.S. House of Representatives. I believe that all Members of the House should cooperate fully with any criminal investigation.

"That being said, I am very concerned about the necessity of a Saturday night raid on Congressman Jefferson's Capitol Hill Office in pursuit of information that was already under subpoena and at a time when those subpoenas are still pending and all the documents that have been subpoenaed were being preserved.

The Founding Fathers were very careful to establish in the Constitution a Separation of Powers to protect Americans against the tyranny of any one branch of government. They were particularly concerned about limiting the power of the Executive Branch. Every Congressional Office contains certain Legislative Branch documents that are protected by the Constitution. This protection-as the Supreme Court has repeatedly held-is essential to guarantee the independence of the Legislative Branch. No matter how routine and non-controversial any individual Legislative Branch document might be, the principles of Separation of Powers, the independence of the Legislative Branch, and the protections afforded by the Speech or Debate clause of the Constitution must be respected in order to prevent overreaching and abuse of power by the Executive Branch.

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/05/a_raid_too_far.html

[bleever]

1. Denny Hastert: Statesman.

Denny and Newt will save us! They're ON THE JOB!



:rofl:

[Skip Intro]

8. yeah

lol

[Canuckistanian]

31. Just waiting for Santorum's statement now....

Although he'll probably change it in a week or so anyways.
:rofl:

[cascadiance]

35. And we don't hear the thank you from Hastert to Rove...

for setting this incident up so that he could appear like a "statesman"...

[Erika]

2. The GOP through their rubber stamping has unleashed

a monster and destroyed the separation of powers. I hope they finally acknowledge how they've damaged our Constitution and our country by their blind idiotic support.

[IndyJones]

3. Separation of powers for US Taxpayer Citizen - okay to violate

Separation of powers for Congressmen - not okay to violate.

Which is it, Newt?

[rpannier]

4. When it's the Constitutional safety and protections afforded

average citizens that are being violated he (dennis 'dukes of' hastert) doesn't care. But when it's congresses protection under the Constitution he becomes conncerned.

[madrchsod]

5. interesting

well who issued the orders to raid the house? i guess denny is getting a little worried about the boys in the whitehouse

[LA lady]

14. Thomas Hogan

The FBI's raid on the office of Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) was the first such raid on Capitol Hill in history and came about only after lawyers for the House of Representatives refused to turn over the material the FBI sought, according to officials familiar with the case.

At the request of the FBI, the House General Counsel's office had secured copies of the documents and computer files being sought in the bribery investigation from Jefferson's office.

But officials say the House lawyers then refused to turn over the documents to the FBI.

The refusal by the House Counsel led the FBI to seek a search warrant from Judge Thomas Hogan to send agents into Jefferson's Rayburn Building office, room 2113, according to officials.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/05/jeffersons_cold.html

Recently, Chief Judge Thomas Hogan ordered Judith Miller of the New York Times jailed after she refused to disclose her confidential source to a grand jury. Matthew Cooper of Time Magazine avoided jail time after he agreed to reveal his source.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hogan

[987654321]

15. A friend from Europe told me the other day...

That many people where he's from consider the US a fascist country now. Being a loyal American, I had to debate him on that issue. Not my America!

With more and more stories of the unabated abuses by this administration, I think that maybe there is more truth to what he said than I was willing to admit.

[annabanana]

19. Welcome to DU 987654321

It is a saddening thing to have to recognize.

I thank the relatively effective public education system of the late 50's and early 60's that more and more people are finally waking up. Hooray to all the teachers who explained "checks & balances" to those with ears.

[987654321]

25. Checks and what?

I don't think most of our youth really understand that. I discussed with my daughter what she was learning in her government class and found that she had learned very little about such things as checks and balances, our Constitution, and the rights we are guaranteed. I found out that her teacher would consistently show videos of John Stossel rather than about the struggles in our own country for everyone to have the equal rights guaranteed to us. I was incensed and complained to the teacher, but he murmured something about how liberals always want to have their agenda pushed on students and other bullshit like that. Fortunately the administration is going to put strict guidelines on what can and can't be shown in the classroom next school year.

Teaching about the constitution and the rights each individual is guaranteed shouldn't be a liberal vs conservative thing. And it is a travesty that more of our youth are not being adequately taught about it. It is a fundamental responsibility for our schools to make sure that each student fully understands how our government is supposed to work, that the constitution is a living document, and that they have rights guaranteed to them so they feel they are empowered to make changes, regardless of their ideology. I think it is as important than any other subject taught. Unfortunately I think our schools have gotten lazy in this regard.

[LA lady]

21. Some agree, some disagree

Sorry but i disagree. I came to the US at 17 and it is the best.

My family is from the Middle East and Europe, we want to be here.

[987654321]

24. I agree...

That we are still the best country in the world. However, I do understand that because we come from different backgrounds, we have different perspectives.

I am not trashing our country, just pointing out the destructive path we are on. I also believe that being the greatest country does not excuse everything our government does. We have been great because our constitution has guaranteed us rights unmatched by any other country on this planet. These rights have opened up opportunities for each of us here to reach our full potential. But with freedom of the press being threatened, with the separation of powers being almost non-existent, and with the lower-class having virtually no voice in how our government operates, that constitution is becoming more of a historical document rather than the living document it was meant to be.

We are heading into the direction of a fascist state, in my opinion. I have no problem with wealthy people having the luxuries that someone like me could never even think of having. I just don't like the reality that the wealthy have more rights than me. That is not how our country was supposed to be run. But that is where we are today and it is only getting worse. Our freedoms have been eroded, while money and power are the new Gods our leaders are following.

Thanks for responding to my post and giving me your opinion. I understand and respect it and hope you respect mine.

[LA lady]

30. of course

"Thanks for responding to my post and giving me your opinion. I understand and respect it and hope you respect mine. "

Absolutely! But you sort of made mine; if this country were fascist, we couldn't talk peacefully about differences of opinion!
:)

[madrchsod]

29. thanks for the info

now i wonder what the hell this is really about

[Mnemosyne]

6. He's just worried about his own butt,

picturing what could happen to him if Sibel ever gets to speak freely. I hear Turkey plate is his specialty.

[DBoon]

7. They are scared because they know they are next

tyrants end up eating their own supporters, once they have devoured the opposition

[Catch22Dem]

10. I used to believe that...

It'll never happen though. They'll all die very rich, very old, very successful men. None of them will be held accountable. Think about the rampant repuke corruption, yet a dem congressman gets his office raided.

[Iowa]

32. They may die very rich and very old...

...but they will NEVER die successful. Their time on this earth will have been spent making the world much worse for their own personal benefit. They will have left death, suffering, and destruction in their wake. Their old age will be haunted by the evil they have wrought, and they will die without honor. The righteous will cheer the final departure of these cowardly, wicked men - and their names will be cursed for generations to come. They will die the same way they lived - as complete and utter failures.

[rodeodance]

9. It does seem to be odd for the FBI to do this.

[Rose Siding]

11. I think so, too and it didn't even occur to me until I read this.

Luckily, Den has to worry about the slew of gopers under investigation or it never would have been brought up- It would have been very ugly if dems had raced in to defend the increasingly tainted Jefferson.

I don't remember; was Cunningham's capitol hill ofc tossed?

[Erika]

13. Not to my knowledge

This administration chose a democrat to unleash themselves on. Surprise, surprise.

[Fovea]

12. Dennis worries the FBI will take his drawer full of

Turkish taffy.

[Old and In the Way]

16. Maybe Jefferson travels in Republican circles.

Corrupt people tend to gravitate towards those of similar inclinations. Perhaps Mr. Jefferson has lots of insight on the current Congressional leadership. I wonder if this is an outgrowth of the Cunningham debriefings? hmmmmm.

[goclark]

33. Huum, there must be so reason that

thry would be willing to defend him.

Ididn't think they would do anything but LOVE the fact that he takes heat off of them.

[HereSince1628]

17. Gee, maybe something to hide, guys?

I appreciate the notion of separation of powers, but it's consideration in this Congress seems rather ironic doesn't it?

No Republican seems interested in a tug of war to protect Congressional oversight of the "unitary" executive. It's war, don't you know?

And

It's ok to trace Americans' phone call, and to monitor the activity of reporters, without the Judiciary being able to exercise its authority by ruling on the probable cause that would justify a warrant. Innocent people have nothing to hide or be afraid of, don't you know?

But, as part of a criminal investigation into legislative corruption, hands off Congressional Offices? Hmmmmm.

They've got a sudden change of heart when their favorite hiding place looks less secure. What gives? Suppose we might find more bag money? Documents outlining votes for sale? Maybe folks doing day-trading? Schedules of home game availability of sky-boxes? Call-lists for poker games and preference in hair color of hookers? An exclusive collection of signed prints from the Gannon whitey-tighty photo shoot?

[maine_raptor]

18. On this matter

I suspect that we could solve this country's energy crisis by generating electricity from all the Founding Fathers now spinning in their graves.

Gee Coach Denny, how does it feel when the chickens have come home to roost. You guys unleashed and feed the Demon of an all-powerful Executive Branch, now you're upset that it's turned on you!

Give me a break.

[riona]

20. You reap what you sow, senator

[Supersedeas]

22. oh, now, they care about the Separation of Powers

[zbdent]

23. I wonder if the Repukes who are clamoring about such incidents

(warrantless invasions regarding bribery cases) are getting scared that they might just be subject to such "illegal searches" in their future come 1/4/2007 ? ? ?

[lyonn]

28. Exactly. When the repubs lose the House & Senate

they want their drawers covered. Interesting how all of a sudden the rights/rules of congress should be strictly followed. I don't hear them fussing about any other rights, like the peoples and their phone conversations. I'm lovin it, except the public may fall for their sudden righteousness.

[zbdent]

37. Another position which might explain why they are defending him;

maybe whomever is bribing him have also bribed them . . . and he could squeal on them to save his ass.

So, if the evidence is thrown out due to an "illegal/unconstitutional search", their asses are safe . . . no sword of Damocles to dangle over his head, making him talk . . .

[AX10]

26. While Hastert is correct to believe that this "search" is illegal...

and a breach of assigned powers, the question is this: "Why is a partisan such as Dennis Hastert defending a Democrat with such zeal?" :shrug:

[Major Hogwash]

27. I thought their offices were sacred territory or something.

Nothing is sacred anymore with BushCo in charge.

Except for Delay, Rove, Libby, Cheney, etc., etc.

[gordianot]

34. Hastert knows if he gets out of line the goons will get him.

J. Edgar used blackmail, not W he uses brute force.

[gulliver]

36. I think he is just trying to keep the story alive.

And probably a few other things like getting the feds to lay off Congressional corruption, because he knows where the next few arrests are coming from.

Jefferson should be made the subject of an ethics investigation. The Dems should call for it. Show how we police our own.