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Judicial Watch Statement on Court Ruling FBI Congressional Raid Unconstitutional
| Source: Judicial Watch
WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - August 3, 2007) - Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton offered
the following statement today in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit ruling that a FBI raid of Congressman
William Jefferson's office was unconstitutional:
"Today's appellate court decision ruling unconstitutional the FBI raid of
Congressman William Jefferson sets Congress above the law. If allowed to
stand, this radical court decision will give members of Congress an
incentive to engage in criminal activity in their congressional offices.
"The Speech or Debate Clause was not intended to allow members of Congress
to conceal corrupt and criminal activity. Taking a bribe is not part of
the legitimate legislative process. This decision undermines the rule of
law and should be appealed by the Department of Justice."
Judicial Watch filed an amicus curiae brief with the court on April 6, 2007
which argued the Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause was violated by the
search of Jefferson's office.
For information on Judicial Watch's campaign against government corruption,
please visit www.judicialwatch.org.