Angry lawmakers demand FBI return seized documents
(Search of congressman's office unconstitutional, they say ???)
"Most leaders of both parties stand together in opposition
to an executive branch raid of a legislative branch office"
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So, Like, DUH, What Are They All Afraid Of ???
Dave wants to know ???
If you have nothing to hide ???
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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congressional Republicans demanded Wednesday that
the FBI surrender documents and other items agents seized on Capitol Hill
in what lawmakers said was an unconstitutional raid.
"I think those materials ought to be returned," said House Speaker
Dennis Hastert, adding that the FBI agents involved "ought to be
frozen out of that (case) for the sake of the Constitution."
The Saturday night search of Rep. William Jefferson's office on
Capitol Hill brought Democrats and Republicans together in rare
election-year accord, with both parties protesting agency conduct
they said violated the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine.
"Not anyone here is above the law," Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi,
D-California, said Tuesday. But, she added, "I think you've seen
abuse of power of the executive branch over this weekend."
A day earlier, Hastert, R-Illinois, complained personally to
President Bush about raid. Other House officials have predicted
that the case would bring all three branches together at the
Supreme Court for a constitutional showdown.
But while most leaders of both parties stand together in opposition
to an executive branch raid of a legislative branch office, party leaders
are acting on different political agendas.
Democrats, hoping to exploit Republican scandals on Capitol Hill
and regain control of Congress, are making it known that Jefferson,
of Louisiana, is no longer welcome on the House's most prestigious panel,
the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.
For his part, Jefferson, who has denied wrongdoing, remains defiant.
"I will not give up a committee assignment that is so vital to New Orleans
at this crucial time for any uncertain, long-term political strategy,
" efferson said Tuesday."If asked, I would respectfully decline."
His spokeswoman, Melanie Roussell, added that Jefferson
will not resign from Congress.
Lawmakers predict a long dispute over the FBI's search of Jefferson's
office last weekend. Historians say it was the first raid of a
representative's quarters in Congress' 219 years.
FBI agents searched Jefferson's office in pursuit of evidence in
a bribery investigation. The search warrant, signed by U.S.
District Court Judge Thomas Hogan, was based on an affidavit
that said agents found $90,000 in cash wrapped and stashed in
the freezer of Jefferson's home.
Jefferson has not been indicted and has denied wrongdoing.
"My opinion is that they took the wrong path," Hastert said of the FBI,
after meeting with Bush in the White House. "They need to back up,
and we need to go from there."
White House officials said they did not learn of the search until
after it happened. They pledged to work with the Justice Department
to soothe lawmakers.
"We are hoping that there's a way to balance the constitutional
concerns of the House of Representatives with the law enforcement
obligations of the executive branch," White House press secretary
Tony Snow said. "Obviously we are taking note of
Speaker Hastert's statements."
Democrat want Jefferson to step aside
House Democrats reacted particularly quickly, in keeping with their
election-year pledge to campaign against what they call a Republican
"culture of corruption."
Officials said Pelosi had discussed Jefferson's situation with several
senior lawmakers and there was a consensus that he should step aside,
preferably voluntarily, at least until his legal situation was clarified.
It was not clear whether she or an emissary approached Jefferson.
The officials who described the developments did so on condition of
anonymity, citing the delicacy of the situation.
Pelosi moved aggressively recently when questions were raised about
financial dealings of Rep. Alan Mollohan. The West Virginian quickly
announced that he was voluntarily stepping aside as the senior
Democrat on the ethics committee.
Whatever Jefferson's fate, the weekend raid stirred
bipartisan expressions of concern.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales tried to strike a
conciliatory tone, saying,
"We have a great deal of respect for the Congress as
a coequal branch of government."
But he also defended the search:
"We have an obligation to the American people to
pursue the evidence where it exists."
Justice Department officials said the decision to search Jefferson's
office was made in part because he refused to comply with a subpoena
for documents last summer. Jefferson reported the subpoena to the House
on September 15, 2005.
The ABC News report came just hours after Hastert and House Minority
Leader Nancy Pelosi demanded that the Justice Department return
materials it seized over the weekend during a search of the office
of Rep. William Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat who is the subject
of a separate federal corruption probe.
Hastert has been outspoken in his criticism of the FBI's search of
Jefferson's office, saying it violated the separation of powers
between the legislative and executive branches.
"it violated the separation of powers"
Uh Like Double Duh Does that make any sense to anyone ???
05/25/2006 (In the Year of our DICTATOR)
PRESIDENT BUSH ORDERS THE DOCUMENTS SEIZED IN A CONGRESSMAN'S HOUSE OFFICE
SEALED FOR 45 DAYS
They are ALl F'N CROOKS !!! They Are all In This Together !!!
Dave Kaspersin
WAKE UP PEOPLE. WE ARE BEING SCREWED !!!
drk@dynrec.com