E Pluribus Unum

The conventional wisdom surrounding Dennis Hastert's discovery that Congress is a co-equal branch of government was due in large part because he too might find the FBI knocking at his door for being "In the mix" of the Abramoff scandals.

Not really a stretch of the imagination to think a powerful Chicago politician like Hastert, who was one of the largest recipients of the nation's most notorious professional bagman's largess (HT: pam), could be a tad bit suspect in his recent financial dealings.  Corruption has gotten out of control in Washington, and the FBI is ramping up to deal with it.

The Constitution is clear that the Speech and Debate Clause by it's plain language exempts congressmen from arrest while pursuing their official duties, but makes exception for those immunities in cases of treason, felony and breaches of the peace.  It did not offer any protection to Representative William Jefferson from the FBI executing a duly authorized warrant to search his office.  Indeed, one can assume that since it doesn't protect a member from arrest, a search warrant is fair game.  So just who does Speaker Hastert think he's blowing all that smoke at?

Two thoughts occur after surfing past this post at the Sideshow.

There was a better way to proceed.  The FBI could have brought in the Capital Police to execute the warrant with appropriate safeguards that the executive branch agents weren't just rifling through the confidential papers of a co-equal branch.  That is the essence of the warrantless NSA snooping objections. There's nobody watching the watchers.

Also, by using such heavy handed methods against the one Democrat on the Hill that got caught red handed taking bribes, they put all the GOPers wondering just what convicted felons Jack Abramoff, Brent Wilkes and Duke Cunningham have been telling prosecutors on notice about what may be coming their way.  Next time, things will go differently because I'm sure the President doesn't want to write to many more of these.

I'm not tying to imply that the GOP leadership puts party loyalty before truth or before the interests of the American people, or before justice.  I'm coming right out and saying so in plain English, this is how crooks behave.

ADDENDUM: 

Pelosi is taking serious heat from the Congressional Black Caucus for her principled stand.  The problem is, getting the guy on tape an all, the CBC is on the wrong side of this fight.