Sanctuary!

Remember Quasimodo running into Notre Dame with the fair damsel in his arms, shouting the historic plea for respect of the sanctity of the cathedral as a refuge from violence? Well, now we have a Mel Brooks moment in the hallowed halls of the Rayburn Office Building as FBI agents with Federal warrant enter the office of Representative William Jefferson (D-LA) and find the majority of the $100,000 which they paid him in a sting operation.

So, let’s see if we can understand this. Here’s the detail and the umbrage from Speaker Hastert, among others: Sanctuary, Sanctuary!!!

The situation apparently is that Congress-critter Jefferson has been suspected of just a tad of corruption. Based on a reasonable probability that he would continue to operate in the manner to which he had become accustomed, the FBI put out some bait. Trap baited and video rolling, the Congressman snatched it up and in the process even joked at the foolishness of circumlocution regarding the discussion of the quid-pro-quo of the pay-off. Why, no need to talk in all this code as though the FBI is watching… Oooopps! They were.

Then with a hundred large in the Congressman’s sticky hands, the FBI went off with the video to a Federal judge and sought a warrant to close the loop and recover the money thereby validating the sting. They were even smart enough to discuss the nuances of how to deal with legislative papers and materials which might raise the separation of powers issue. Reasonably enough, the judge issued the warrant.

Raid was conducted and there in Mr. Jefferson’s freezer in his office was the cold, hard cash. Looks like a slam-dunk. But, nothing in Washington is ever as it seems. Recently the Dems have been hard-pressing the Reps on corruption issues. What with Cunningham and Delay both nailed, the concept of an administration rife with corruption looked like a good bet for the Donkeys in the coming election. Now, we’ve got pretty good evidence that it isn’t a one-way street. Jefferson is at least as sleazy and maybe a bit more blatant.

The question that must be asked is why all of this high dudgeon regarding the sanctuary of the offices. Yes, the separation of powers clearly demands that the executive storm-troopers not go marching into legislators’ offices intimidating them and bending them to the will of the King (AKA President.) But, if there is evidence of crime and there is proper warrant and the result clearly does not infringe on the legislative process isn’t it reasonable?

The cliché of “Rule of Law” is being thrown about, implying that the Executive is violating equal protection for an oppressed class of folks—the Congress-critters. Yet, if any of us were stung in similar manner it seems doubtful that we could claim Fourth Amendment protection against proper warrant and search of our homes. Why should there be office sanctuary for slime like this?

At least the Congressman didn’t punch out any Capital Police officers, ala McKinney.