More strange bedfellows in the Jefferson case
First, it was House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issuing a joint statement condeming and calling “unconstitutional” the FBI’s seizure of documents from Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-LA) Congressional office in Washington, DC. Now, we’ve got Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill) taking more measured approaches to the ‘controversy’ – with Frist concluding that after Constitutional research as well as consulting with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that the FBI ‘acted appropriately’ in the search on Rep. Jefferson’s office and Durbin noting that this incident is not without precedent:
Rep. Jefferson – the latest news
Where to start? How about here: House Rep. and Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Caleefornia) is facing a revolt from – surprise – the Congressional Black Caucus. Essentially, they’ve accused her of a ‘racial double standard’ of sorts on condemnation of Democratic congressmen accused of wrongdoing. Via the Hill:
Justice Dept. denies Hastert is under investigation
Lots of rumors swirling around today about the rumor that House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-Ill) is under investigation for alleged ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The Justice Dept is denying it: