A constitutional clause designed to protect members of Congress from abusive or harassing lawsuits is increasingly being used by lawmakers as a shield in public corruption investigations, frustrating investigators even as the FBI attempts to police wrongdoing at a pace not seen since the Watergate scandal. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
Excellent article about the 'speech or debate' constitutional clause, and its use to protect members of Congress from corruption investigations. The report is in-depth, presents extensive factual evidence and commentary from multiple sources, with helpful context on this important issue.
Johnson presents a disconcertingly wide array of legislators who appear to be using a special legal status to protect them from Justice Department investigations of possible criminal conduct for public corruption in office, and their questionable legal arguments.
This news is alarming on at least three levels: that elected officials would be involved in serious corruption tarnishes the fading star of the democratic experiment based on government of, by, and for the people. ALL of us, not just the privileged few. At another level entirely, it is outrageous that legislators--who MAKE laws--misuse the legal structure upon which our democracy is based to conceal crimes they commit in office. If that isn't bad enough, we face a Justice ... More »
Under a constitutional provision known as the “speech or debate clause,” lawmakers have wide protections that cover their work on Capitol Hill. That means ... More »
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