The FBI and the Congressman
May 31, 2006
A bunch of members of Congress are complaining about the FBI raiding a fellow member’s office and seizing a whole host of documents.
In yesterday’s court filing, the government argued that law enforcement authorities should not be barred from conducting searches of congressional offices simply because they contain legislative materials — such as committee reports, internal memos and drafts of bills — that are protected under the “Speech or Debate” clause. “If his argument is accepted by this court, members of Congress and their staffs would be able to create search-free zones wherever they go by bringing along some legislative materials,”
I really don’t have any problem with the FBI performing a raid on a congressman’s office. The idea that congressmen are above the law is repugnant. The fact that so many members of congress are lambasting the president and the FBI for this is disturbing. I can’t help but think that they are worried because they have damning evidence within their own offices.
