Rep. Jefferson (D-LA) and the FBI

I haven't been following closely the troubles of Rep. Jefferson (D-LA), but Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo points to this interesting speech by Rep. Franks (D-MA):

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I disagree with the bipartisan House leadership criticism of the FBI's search of a Member's office. I know nothing specifically about the case, except that the uncontroverted public evidence did seem to justify the issuance of a warrant.

What we now have is a Congressional leadership, the Republican part of which has said it is okay for law enforcement to engage in warrantless searches of the average citizen, now objecting when a search, pursuant to a validly issued warrant, is conducted of a Member of Congress.

It should be noted that a warrant was obtained. I have to admit that I also haven't been following closely the objections of Hastert and Pelosi to the search by FBI of a representative's office. It would not surprise me, however, to learn that Hastert and Pelosi objected to the searches for different reasons. House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi, for example, might be objecting because a traditional procedure was not followed for investigating a Congressional office; and Hastert might be objecting because he doesn't want Congressional Republicans inspected too closely in the wake of the Cunningham, DeLay and Abramoff scandals. Hopefully, in coming days, we'll learn more what this controversy is all about.