Court rules FBI search of Jefferson’s office was constitutional Contributed by Bill Faith
Jefferson Corruption Case "Back on Track"
FBI officials say their investigation of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) can get "back on track" with a ruling by Judge Thomas Hogan denying a motion by Jefferson and the House of Representative's Counsel to return documents the FBI seized from Jefferson's office on May 20 and 21.
Justice Department officials say they had originally hoped to indict Jefferson by June 30 so that the "political situation" in Jefferson's home district could "right itself" before the November election. Officials say if the documents are now available to them, an indictment is likely sometime this summer.
The House Counsel and Jefferson's own counsel claimed that the Speech and Debate Clause had been violated by the FBI and Justice Department in their ongoing bribery investigation of Jefferson for attempting to influence deals for telecommunications companies in Africa.
In his opinion Judge Hogan wrote, "The Court has found that the search executed on Congressman Jefferson's congressional office was constitutional, as it did not trigger the Speech or Debate Clause privilege, did not offend the principle of the separation of powers, and was reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. Accordingly, the Court will deny the motion for return of property."
[. H/T: Allah, who comments .]
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CQ: Judge:
Contributed by Bill Faith on July 10, 2006 at 09:46 PM in , |