The Biters Bit

Finally, something funny:

There is not that much Congressional reaction to FBI claims to have a viedotape of Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) taking a $100,000 bribe and to have found $90,000 of that wrapped like food, hiding in William's freezer. However, the fact that the FBI invaded the hallowed grounds of a congressional office -- now that has got people excited.

Some reactions culled from various news reports:

House Majority Leader John Boehner of Ohio told reporters Tuesday that the Congress will somehow speak to "this issue of the Justice Department's invasion of the legislative branch. In what form, I don't know. I've got to believe at the end of the day it's going to end up across the street at the Supreme Court," Boehner said.

"The Founding Fathers were very careful to establish in the Constitution a separation of powers to protect Americans against the tyranny of any one branch of government. They were particularly concerned about limiting the power of the Executive Branch," [Dennis Hastert] said in a statement.

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California said congressional independence from the executive branch protects Americans from abuses of power. "Justice Department investigations must be conducted in accordance with Constitutional protections and historical precedent," she said.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the raid raises questions about why the Justice Department raided the offices of a Democrat but not Republican lawmakers under investigation. "It certainly has been disparate treatment," he said.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said that he was "very concerned" about the incident and that Senate and House counsels would review it.

And saving the best for last, there is this:

"When I first saw [reports of the search], I thought: 'Wonder if the federal government needs to be reined in,' " said Rep. Zach Wamp (R) of Tennessee.

Now you wonder if the federal government needs to be reined in?? Courtesy of OnTheIssues.Org, here's a brief rundown on Wamp's positions on civil rights:

Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent. (Dec 2005)
Voted YES on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on protecting the Pledge of Allegiance. (Sep 2004)
Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration. (Jun 2003)
Voted YES on banning gay adoptions in DC. (Jul 1999)
Voted YES on ending preferential treatment by race in college admissions. (May 1998)
Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
Rated 7% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)

I can't find anything about Wamp's position on the right of privacy or the NSA wiretap issue, but my guess is he's agin the first and in favor of the second. But let the FBI search a Congressional office, with a warrant mind you, and suddenly he wonders if the federal government might not be out of control.

Maybe there is a Constitutional question luking somewhere in all of this. But the spectacle of Boehner, Hastert, Wamp and First suddenly becoming chanpions of the right to be free from intrusions by the Executive is just too rich to pass up.

Glenn Reynolds jumps on the irony:

[M]embers of Congress who are offended by an unannounced late-night raid on an office might profitably be asked what they think about late-night unannounced raids on private homes, which happen all the time as part of the Congressionally-mandated War on Drugs.

Reynolds also provides a link to this:

One can almost hear Speaker Hastert trying to defend himself: ”Look, I said something about executive branch overreaching just this morning. Ya know, I’ve signed off on some extraordinary police powers over the years, but there’s gotta be a limit to those powers. The Constitution is clear: The right of members of Congress to be secure in their offices and homes shall not be violated!”

I wonder what Hastert et al will say when they find out the NSA has been monitoring their phone calls for years.