Hastert and Pelosi: On Second Thought….Well, well, well. Last week I pointed out that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) seemed remarkably quiet after a federal judge ruled that the FBI’s raid of Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-LA) congressional office was constitutional.
That was in stark contrast to the duo’s hard-line stance shortly after the raid, when they demanded that the FBI “immediately return” the documents to Jefferson. They were fighting to ensure the separation of powers, to uphold the constitution — they were going to fight this thing to the end!
Now Roll Call reports (sub. req.) that the House leadership, having lost the first round in the courts, probably won’t even be appealing the judge’s decision. It seems that neither figure is willing to stick their neck out alone to defend Jefferson, fearing it could tar them as pro-corruption. Also, since those heady times in May when Hastert and Pelosi bonded over their outrage, a number of lawmakers have privately complained to the leadership that this is not a battle that is best fought publicly.
If they decide not to appeal, the paper notes, the leadership could recruit surrogates — “prominent former lawmakers” and “legal experts” — to take up their cause in the courts.
