News briefs – Jane Harman lying and William Jefferson surviving?

Is Jane Harman lying about FISA?

Rep. Harman, the former ranking minority member of the House Intelligence Committee (and thank doorknobs, not its chair) claims that, contrary to a book interview, she was not ignorant of BushCo breaking the law with unauthorized snooping for FISA reasons, before the New York Times broke the story in 2005. Given Harman’s track record in this issue, I’ll certainly take interviewing author Eric Lichtblau’s word over hers.

Is William Jefferson breathing easier?

The allegedly money-laundering and bribe-taking Congressman can put up a little stouter legal defense now, courtesy of the Supreme Court. SCOTUS refused to accept a Justice Department appeal of a D.C. Court of Appeals ruling that the FBI had no right to search Jefferson’s office, even with a warrant, without consulting the Congressman.

Why? The appellate court said the Constitution’s Speech and Debate Clause, which says Members of Congress:

shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony, and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their attendance at the Session of their Respective Houses, and in going to and from the same, and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

That said, it’s arguable that his office, especially when he is not there, counts as “going to and from attendance.”

And, it’s not at ALL arguable that he has been accused of, and indicted for, the commission of felonies.

SCOTUS blew this one, IMO. Especially, I don’t get not even accepting the case.