WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush stepped into the Justice Department's constitutional confrontation with Congress on Thursday and ordered that documents seized in an FBI raid on a congressman's office be sealed for 45 days.
The president directed that no one involved in the investigation have access to the documents taken last weekend from the office of Rep. William Jefferson, D-Louisiana, and that they remain in the custody of the solicitor general.
In a statement, Bush said he recognized that Republican and Democratic leaders in the House had "deeply held views" that the search on Jefferson's Capitol Hill office violated the Constitution's separation of powers principles. But he stopped short of saying he agreed with them.
Bush urged the Justice Department and the House to continue discussions and to resolve the matter quickly.
"Let me be clear: Investigating and prosecuting crime is a crucial executive responsibility that I take seriously," he said. "Those who violate the law -- including a member of Congress -- should and will be held to account. This investigation will go forward and justice will be served."
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, issued a rare joint statement demanding that the FBI return the documents and saying that Jefferson then should cooperate more fully with the investigation.
Other lawmakers warned that the constitutional confrontation could spark a voter backlash, if Congress was seen as protecting its own at all costs.
full article: http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/05/25/raid.on.congress.ap/index.html?fark
At first I was quite confused as to how Bush could claim that these documents be held in confinement yet call for quick justice. The two statements seem to contradict each other. But once I finished the article I felt a little better knowing that tensions ARE pretty high in congress over this search and seizure.
I am still conflicted about the ordeal. On one hand, the executive branch MUST enforce the law. You would expect the FBI or any other enforcement branch to search any and all places a suspect might leave info pertinant to your investigation.
But this is a power that could easily be abused. A congressperson could easily be set up in order for their office to be raided and an assessment of said congress person's private business used in an "unofficial" manner.
My question to you: Does the FBI have the right to search and seize documents and information from Capitol Hill? Do you think that a congressperson's office is a "safe-house" of info that shouldn't be shared? Wouldn't a majority of congress agree to the search anyway and cooperate with law enforcement?
The Congressmembers who are against this are saying that they are immune to searches and seizures while they are engaged in legislative acts -- the speech or debate clause of the Constitution.
I agree with Democratic Representative Barney Frank. From Voice of America:
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There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.
Agreed with LP on that.
I'm still feeling that Bush is only protecting his own by doing this. He realizes he has to protect one dem (probably against this entrapment) in order to protect his party.
Regardless...listen up Politicians...NOBODY is above the law. Not even you!