Lawmakers Ask Judge to Call Jefferson Search Unconstitutional House leaders from both parties asked a federal judge Wednesday to declare the late-night search of Rep. William Jefferson’s office violated the Constitution, a move that could undermine part of a lengthy bribery investigation of the Louisiana Democrat. In a 43-page court filing, the House leaders accused the FBI and Justice Department of conducting a heavy-handed search of Jefferson’s office May 20-21 and threatening the balance of power in government in the process. (AP)Specter Blasts Cheney on NSA Lobbying In a terse and highly unusual letter to Vice President Cheney, Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) today rejected the Bush administrationâs insistence that a secret wire tapping program being conducted on U.S. civilians by the National Security Agency is legal, complaining that efforts by the White House to stonewall Congressional inquiries into the program âdenigrates the constitutional authority and responsibility of the Congress and specifically the Judiciary Committee to conduct oversight on constitutional issues.â Specterâs anger peaked Tuesday after he learned that Cheney had been lobbying Republican members of the committee to âoppose any Judiciary Committee hearing, even a closed oneâ that involved telephone companies that have cooperated with the NSA. (Roll Call, AP, USA Today, KR)
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=183165