Finally! Republicans and Democrats both came to agreement today over an issue of vital importance to our society and our nation.
No, not real and comprehensive lobby reform. No, not protecting the internet from greedy corporations. What's this issue that brings politicians from both sides of the aisle together?
Themselves, of course. Lawmakers are upset over an FBI raid of Rep. William Jefferson's office this weekend. Jefferson is under investigation for bribery, but this is the first time ever that a sitting lawmaker's congressional office has been searched. And boy, are Senators and Representatives mad about it:
The FBI's weekend search of the House office of a Louisiana Democrat under investigation for bribery may have overstepped constitutional boundaries, House leaders said as the congressman under investigation pledged to stay in office. 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."
Legislators are claiming a real constitutional issue here, which there may very well be. One thing I find noteworthy, however, is the juxtaposition with the ethics committee, which also saw bipartisanship at its finest -- in stalling investigations of potentially unethical lawmakers. Their laissez-faire approach to policing themselves allowed scandals such as this one to bubble up and spill over. It'll be interesting to see if they actually have a constitutional claim against the search, but in the mean time, they'd better try to enjoy the bed they made.
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