Courts ruled raid on Congressmans office unconstitutional?
Does this effectively put congressional reps above the law, be it Jefferson or whoever?
Answers:
That is the intent. More legislation via the executive and judicial branches.
Read the story again. The confiscation of legislative papers was ruled unconstitutional. The rest of the raid and siezures was within the law and Constitution.
No.
You did not read the story or you did not understand it.
The rub was in what was taken. Niether the executive branch nor the judicial branch has dominion over the legislative branch. They are co-equal. Seizure of congressional papers and doccuments is outside of the constitutional pervue of any law enforcement agency as they are a part of the judicial branch. Items not related to congress or its operations can be seized under a search warrant.
No, not above the law -- the individuals are still liable for any actions they commit.
The ruling itself just means that the "congressional privilege" (under the Speech and Debate Clause) works just as much against executive department raids as the executive privilege does against Congressional inquiries.
Seems like a reasonable balance -- both sides are largely immune to discovery demands as they interpret it.
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