Prosecutors Worry Court Decision May Threaten Pol WiretapsKeep your fingers crossed, Ted. The AP is reporting that a recent decision in the Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) case could make it impossible to tap lawmakers’ phones in corruption cases. That’s good news for Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), since it was just reported that he was secretly recorded by the FBI while on the phone with former Veco CEO Bill Allen.
The decision, which one watchdog group worried would be a boon for corrupt politicians, dealt with the FBI’s raid of Jefferson’s Congressional office. The court found the raid unconstitutional on the grounds that it violated the Speech or Debate Clause because agents thumbed through protected legislative documents.
And in an appeal of that decision last week, the Justice Department argued that the ruling “‘threatens to complicate numerous ongoing and future investigations’ and hinder the ability to use electronic surveillance.”
The decision is already starting to affect federal investigations. The AP also reported that some members of Congress interpret the ruling as protecting staffers from speaking to the FBI.