Why is FAUX saying it's legal for the FBI to search congressional offices?

[magellan]

I was amazed to stop on that poor excuse for a news channel and find John Gibson and some other jackass going on about how surprised they are that the Repugs are upset about the search of Jefferson's office, like this is an everyday occurrence! (If it's legal then it SHOULD be an everyday occurrence...The Repubs could keep the entire FBI busy investigating them for YEARS.) Naturally they got snarky about how the Repubs should be fine with it because Jefferson was caught red-handed.

My blood boiled over. The two issues are SEPARATE, are they not? Just because somebody looks guilty as can be of a crime -- and Jefferson does -- doesn't mean you can break the law to prosecute them!! To think otherwise seems to be the Republican Way of Life...unless they're the ones under suspicion, of course.

But I digress.

Jackass #2 was telling Gibson that the FBI search and seizure was perfectly legal. That, oh, way back in ancient times of King and Parliament there was some such notion floating around that the Executive couldn't interfere with the Legislative this way, the implication being that the separation of powers is as old and quaint as our Constitution, which we all know our government doesn't pay any attention to anymore either (wink wink).

And yet, apparently there's enough of a question as to the legality of this action for Bush** to put a 45-day hold on proceedings till everyone can get their story straight -- I suspect.

Any Constitutional nerds here or any lawyers who'd care to speak to FAUX's assertion?

[partylessinOhio]

1. I don't watch Fox and can't stand Gibson, sorry.

[emulatorloo]

2. Gibson seems like a Male Ann Coulter Wannabe

But he is no where near as intelligent or witty (and Ann is an IDIOT imho)

[magellan]

4. I understand

I don't sit and watch FAUX either. But I do sometimes stop as I'm climbing through the news stations, if they've actually got news on rather than a commercial (they always seem to be on commercial break), because I do subscribe to the idea that it's important to know what BS they're feeding their viewers. This just shocked me.

[napi21]

3. Someone read the section of the Constitution that pertains to

the separation of powers. From what I understood, it is ONLY LEGAL if they are investigating a felony, or treason. In the Jefferson situation, it is a felony!

I'm not defending FOX, but stating the way I understand the Constitution statement,

[magellan]

5. Okay, I can accept that if true

But then I want to know why the FBI hasn't searched Ney's office:

Cincinnati Enquirer - Jan 2, 2006
Ohio Republican Chairman Bob Bennett said Thursday that he'd ask Rep. Bob Ney to resign from Congress if he were indicted on felony charges.