Morning Line

Courtesy of Sam Smith, The Progressive Review

WE'RE SURPRISED by how many are dismissing the FBI raid on Capitol Hill as permissible law enforcement. The danger is not just the threat of blackmail, but the broader intimidation of Congress by the executive branch. As former House solicitor Charles Tiefer pointed out, "The framers, who were familiar with King George III's disdain for their colonial legislatures, would turn over in their graves." . . .

Now details of the raid suggest the FBI was up to far more than an ordinary search. They were in the office for 18 hours without any legal representation from the Congress and they downloaded all of Rep. Jefferson's computer files.

Let's say, to be kind, that 5% of the material related to bribery or other malfeasance. That means 95% of what the FBI was up to was spying on Congress' constitutional operations and documents that it had no business viewing. Not to mention the possibility that Jefferson's files contain memos outlining Democratic strategy for the next election and, as Tiefer notes, the personal business of "countless innocent constituents."

This is far worse than the Valerie Plame affair. This involves executive branch thuggery designed to intimidate Congress now and perhaps blackmail some of its members later.

Let's impeach the motherfucker already! --Pete