posted May 26, 2006 11:08 AM              

Just some more unconstitutional stuff that is "business as usual" in the Bush administration.

Bush orders papers sealed
Lawmaker's office search riles House

May 26, 2006

BY JAMES KUHNHENN

KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON -- Trying to avert a constitutional showdown, President George W. Bush on Thursday ordered that files taken by the FBI from the Capitol Hill office of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., be sealed for 45 days and held in the custody of the solicitor general.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., displayed rare bipartisan outrage this week, saying the weekend raid of Jefferson's office violated a fundamental principle of the Constitution -- the independence of the three branches of government.

"I recognize these are deeply held views," Bush said. "Our government has not faced such a dilemma in more than two centuries."

In a joint statement after Bush's announcement, Hastert and Pelosi said they directed House lawyers to negotiate with the Justice Department to establish procedures for obtaining "evidence of criminal conduct that might exist in the offices of members."

Legal experts say the Justice Department could seek appointment of a special master to examine the documents and determine which ones are relevant to the investigation.

According to lawmakers who were briefed by the Justice Department, the agents carted away a box of records from Jefferson's office.

Meanwhile, the FBI-House confrontation has roiled Washington politics.

In a radio interview Thursday that his office distributed to reporters, Hastert suggested that a Wednesday-evening report by ABC News linking him to a federal influence-peddling investigation was an attempt by the Justice Department to bully him for his opposition to the FBI's raid on Jefferson's office.

The department quickly denied that Hastert is under investigation.

posted May 26, 2006 11:46 AM              

It bothers me just knowing he has that kind of power. Especially being evil and all.

Who knows how much crap they cover up.

posted May 26, 2006 12:06 PM            

But, a search warrant, properly executed, properly alleging unlawful activity, affirmed by affidavit and specifying what is to be searched for and where is good anywhere within the jurisdiction of the United States.

Last time I looked at a map of the United States, Washington, DC and every building, every office and every person there ARE within the United States and therefore within the jurisdiction of Federal Courts of the United States. The exception being embassies of foreign governments and foreign diplomats who are immune.

The insane and laughable proposition that Congressmen/Congresswomen could run criminal enterprises out of their Congressional offices or hide evidence of criminal enterprise in their offices and be immune from legal judicial process is a pipedream.

The subject of the search is a far left corrupt kook from the democrat party so I understand your knee-jerk reaction that he must be protected.

But legal process does not create a Constitutional crisis nor is it evidence of a Bush dictatorship.

My advice to Bush would be to let Congress take the Executive Branch to court over the issue. The outcome would give the people of the United States a clear picture of whether the Congress is above the laws everyone else is obligated to follow....or not.

It might just cause American voters to examine much more closely those candidates for office...before they get into office and that's a wholly wholesome proposition and would have a positive outcome.

posted May 26, 2006 12:25 PM              

quote:

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The Constitutional crisis exists only in leftist minds and those whose feelings are hurt at having what they consider their turf examined.

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Not really. They exist in the minds of anyone with a brain who can look around and see what's going on. They do not, however, consist in the mind of someone who chooses to go through life with blinders on.

posted May 26, 2006 12:41 PM            

So far, you've drawn blanks but continue to make even more outrageous, false and unprovable allegations.

If you disagree with the law or interpretations cited in this matter, then your course is clear and easy.

Cite the law, supported with court case citations which proves the Bush Justice Department and the Federal Court which issued the search warrant have no jurisdiction over and in Congressional offices.