Sensenbrenner tries to make Congress the victim

Is Rep. James Sensenbrenner serious?

House Judiciary Chairman JamesSensenbrenner said on Tuesday he plans to draft legislationthat would protect congressional material during searches bygovernment investigators.

..."We want to make sure that when the next congressman isinvestigated for illegal activity that the procedure done bythe Justice Department is right," Sensenbrenner said.

The FBI obtained a court warrant before searching theoffice of Jefferson, a Louisiana Democratic, but lawmakers fromboth parties said the raid violated constitutional protectionsdesigned to shield lawmakers from executive-branch harassment.

This is obviously in response to the FBI raid on the property of Democratic Rep. William Jefferson, who is being investigated for his role in the Congressional bribery scandal.  Many Republicans are worried that they too might have their property searched.

But if legislation is drafted that bans the FBI from conducting Congressional searches, even a court order, then that would open the flood gates to all kinds of things that lawmakers could get away with.  Think about it: with all the corruption in Congress over the last two years, is Sensenbrenner even in a position to try the "poor me" approach?  I don't think so.

Most Americans believe that laws you and I are supposed to follow should also apply to our elected representatives.  I don't think that should change anytime soon.