With Visclosky’s Subpoena CREW Asks: Will House Counsel Once Again Stymie a Criminal Investigation
Washington, D.C. - Today, we learned that Congressman Pete Visclosky has received a grand jury subpoena in connection with the criminal investigation into the PMA Group and its relationship with members of Congress. If recent history is any guide, the House Counsel will soon step in and move to quash the subpoena.
Inserting itself into the criminal investigation into then Rep. John Doolitte (R-CA), the House Counsel argued subpoenas to the congressman violated the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution. The House Counsel made similar arguments when Appropriations Committee staff member Greg Lankler was subpoenaed in the federal probe of Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA). And who can forget the House Counsel adding its voice to defend Rep. William Jefferson – scheduled for trial in early June – claiming the search of the congressman’s Capitol Hill office violated the Speech or Debate Clause? Or when the House Counsel stymied Florida investigators efforts to review the contents of former Rep. Mark Foley’s (R-FL) computer to search for evidence that he had sexually exploited teenage pages?
CREW executive director Melanie Sloan stated, “Although members of Congress campaign against the “culture of corruption,” behind the courtroom door -- and out of the public eye – the House Counsel, acting on behalf of both the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader, routinely steps in to protect members who have abused their offices and the public trust from prosecution. The Republicans and Democrats may not see eye-to-eye on much, but both parties agree members of Congress should be above the criminal laws that apply to the rest of us.”
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a non-profit legal watchdog group dedicated to holding public officials accountable for their actions. For more information, please visit www.citizensforethics.org or contact David Merchant at 202.408.5565 or dmerchant@citizensforethics.org
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