Geez, is there a republican who's not corrupt?

Caught the "investigative" report on Hastert and it just reminded me why I NEVER watch ABC news. No substantiation of the crimes he is to have committed just a bunch of hyped up accusations made by un-named federal officials. OK, lesson learned...back to Fox!

Republican...Democrat...it makes NO difference...these corrupt, self-serving idiots have been doing this for YEARS! And WE allow them to do it! Shame on us!
Being elected to public office is akin to being given a license to steal...

I hope Nancy Pelosi is happy that she affiliated herself with Hastert today with their joint statement. Guilt by association?

UNbelievable! No wonder he wants the FBI to return the documents they took from Jefferson's office because he knows they'll be after his soon!

Brian, I absolutely praise you for continuing to report knowing that they are watching, listening and monitoring you.

Don't worry: the American people who are actively demanding that our congressional members WAKE UP and begin some oversight procedures! What is wrong Brian? They'll be rounding us up and putting us in the detention centers that KRB is building for Haliburton!

Please keep digging Brian, and don't worry. We've got your back, and they can't stop us.

Now we know that more than one member of congress is hiding his crimianal activity in the offices of the halls of congress. They have now declared "we are above the law". Enough said.

"My opinion is that they took the wrong path, Hastert said of the FBI. "They need to back up, and we need to go from there."

What's this supposed to mean? Since when does congress tell the FBI who or what to investigate?

Why am I not surprised...they're eating their own now, so predictable-just throw a net over all of them!

It's about time.
I doubt that I am alone in being sick to death of all of the corruption that seems to be the only thing that the Congress has been up to these last five years.
This is not the first claim of Hastert accepting bribes, either.
So much for values.
Just drop the s, it's all these morally vapid public officials care about.

Is he a crook or is he being punished for disloyalty to King George? Why either or? He could be both. So, I don't know whether to happy or sad over this. I'm so confused.

My! My! My! Aren't we all surprised? Another upstanding Republican in the Congress in a NO NO scandal. And he has the audacity to complain about the execution of a Search Warrant by the FBI. Another fine representative of the people who believes he's above the law. Sounds to me like its time for the Republicans to clean house!

Hastert "In the Mix"? Well now we know why he suddenly became a constitution loving patriot.

It's about time something is being done about politicians who think they are above the law. I don't care what party afilliation they have they should be brought to justice and pay the penalty regardless.

Politicians need to remember what they were elected for and to remember that.

It starts with Bush and goes and goes and goes. Why doesn't the stupid media get it? Why do you think Hastert is going crazy because Jefferson's office was raided-maybe, he's next?

Regardless the party, our "representatives" in Congress are all for sale. They do not think of the people, they think only about whatever fills their coffers. As for me, I intend to vote against ALL incumbents this and future elections. Term limits won't get voted on favorably in DC, therefore, we need to impose our own.

Rich
Berlin, MD

Democrats, Republicans, I don't care. If we have corruption in highest offices of America...flush them out!!!

What is it Hastert & Pelosi are trying to hide from the legal citizens of America??? - They are so afraid of being exposed in corruption by JEFFERSON DOCUMENTS --- Amnesty for illegals - DNC/GOP let our elected officials show their true colors - who is for/against illegals - then go face the voters in the fall, DNC - vote on both sides of the immigration issue - GOP are weak-kneed

Your story of allegations against Hastert is weak.

ABC/CBS/NBC/PMSNBC/CNBC/NPR...SUCK

Why am I not Surprised?

How dare these elected representatives in Washington both Democrat and Republican cry out that the recent FBI search of Representative William Jefferson’s office in conjunction with a criminal investigation was an “outrage”. This is an office bought and paid for by the American taxpayer and is not some sort of privileged sanctuary free from the moral, ethical and legal constraints imposed on society. By what stretch of the imagination can these elitists assert that proof of criminal activity secreted in a congressional office is somehow protected from discovery by the United States Constitution. A legal warrant issued by a federal judge to the FBI to conduct this search does not violate the separation of powers. Rather it is an affirmation of what so many in Congress have been demanding the President and the NSA do when trying to protect us from terrorists. So many of these people have been in Congress for so long that they truly believe they are above the law and not subject to the same restrictions as mere unelected American citizens. The arrogance of our so called representatives is appalling. They need to be reminded that election to office is not a license to flaunt the law. This is one more compelling reason in a long list for the establishment of term limits for Congress.

Here's my suggestion for next fall:

THROW EVERY SINGLE SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN OUT OF OFFICE! NO EXCEPTIONS!

Damn, if there were a viable third party, I'd vote for it's candidates in a heartbeat.

I think this helps explain why so many Republicans are fighting for William Jefferson against the FBI. It also explains why I and many of my fellow Republican friends are becoming registered Independents and leaving the Republican Party!

Brian Ross: How can you investigate anyone when you're #1 on the FBI"S hit parade?

Well THIS would confirm why Hastert has been so outspoken about the FBI raid on a Democrat's office! Just I suspected! The WHOLE LOT OF THEM are rotecting one another. Democrat, Republican, the whole lot of them are filthy! This is increasingly becoming the dark day for America that we always knew was there! The whole lot of them are crooked!

Why haven't people become at least concerned about these nasty polital habits and allegations of nasty political habits that have been exposed over the last year or so? Too many Americans seem to believe that this is just some sort of cost of doing business, instead of recognizing that this is eroding our government and our society's ethics. Few also seem to recognize that the FBI's recent raid of a Congressman's office is a constitutional breach. Instead, too many seem worried about what Hollywood is doing for "family values", what language Hispanics are singing in, and shopping.

Bring out the backhoe and keep on diggin!

It was fine for the Executive Branch to do Congress' job and declare war (Congress had to beg to rubberstamp the Iraq war resolution and, apparently, any spying GWB wants to do) but now that the Exec branch is raiding offices they are outraged? Amazing.

So perhaps this is why Hastert and the Congress have suddenly re-discovered the Separation of Powers...to get their payola papers back?

Go Brian go. Republican or Democrats, expose them. Hastert protests too much.

Very misleading title...

Investigate everyone in WashingtonD. C. They are all
crooks.

Developing.

Could be something. Could be nothing.

this explains why he was so defensive of Jefferson's plight...........they are all crooks !!

*LOL*!!!

This Is So Funny That, I Burst-Out Laughing When I 1st Read The Headline!!!

In Reality Though, It's SO DARN *SAD*!

:-(

Brian:
Unlike your unaired story on the Admin bugging journalists, your producer has to put this story out... or do they?

This is just the tip of the iceberg...
Of course the members of congress are stating this is unconstitutional, they are all corrupt and they all have something to hide.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR ANOTHER BOSTON TEA PARTY...

Throw all of those theiving bastards out and make mandatory term limits so they aren't tempted to take bribes and become engrained in corruption.

I know Denny Hastert personally and would be shocked if there is any truth to this.

Dennis Hastert is out to lunch.

Let's have the House and Congress abide by and subject to the same laws the rest of the nation lives under.

Is he and his conrades exempt from the very rule of law he pleaded to uphold?

Save a jail cell for this one, XL.

Is their a democrat without 100 grand in his freezer ?

Whatever happened to the bribe from russia that hastert received...Did the FBI forget that or oops sorry hastert is a republican, they dont do republicans, just democrats...

No wonder Denny boy was so hot under the collar when the FBI raided William Jefferson's office..said it was unconstitutional (guess he knew he might be next..?)....How ever it seems to be pretty much okay with their Constitution (Pelosi, included) to raid/ tap/listen/data-mine/snoop, on us peasants, who pay the bills for these jackals and theives....any body else as sick of this bunch as I am? Can't we just start all over....?

Ahhh..I love this left wing bias in the media...It'll help get those Neo-con pigs out of office 06 and 08.

What is the term used now when liberal journalists report false information? I think it is "got out in front of the story" Brian Ross seems to have done this as the Justice Department "on the record" which is more than Ross can provide has just said that "Hastert is not under investigation" Nice job Ross

Thanks brian...Thank you so much...Thank you for not letting them keep this quiet..

Surprise, surprise...Hastert whines about the FBI raiding congressional offices WITH A LEGAL WARRANT, and now we find out Hastert himself is under FBI investigation.

Some say (Hi, Fox News!) this sounds like Hastert protecting himself more than some crooked Democrat.

And what's up with Pelosi? How many Democrats must we also drain from this swamp of corruption?

This is not a republican thing. They are all corrupt. They don't give a damn about the American people. They will sell their own mother out. We must have term limits. No more than 8 years for anybody.

The devil's advocate version of all this is "All you people are so disgusted with the *perceived* corruption of congress, that the executive branch could pretty much send them all to Guantanamo, "Just in case," and you'd go along with it.

Tried, convicted and hung all on the unsubstantiated reporting of a "trusted" newsman...let's see the results before being so quick to pass sentence...

Ross, It's about time you print the retraction isn't it? Both the FBI and the DOJ have said "on the record" that Hastert is not under investigation. You should get your high government officials to try that "on the record" stuff!

The Bush administration will catch 'holy hell' from Congress about this. If they thought they were getting grief before from Republican legislators, just wait. It is clear that this leak came from the executive branch with high-level approval. I'm betting on the legislative branch- any takers?

Brian,

You are the man.

Keep up the good work.

PS, you may want to get a disposable cellphone.

Perhaps this country needs another Clinton administration to awaken conservatives.

Mark Twain recognized the affliction, a long time ago and it's not getting any better:
''It could probably be shown by facts and figures
that there is no distinctly native criminal class
except Congress.''

The story is false. The Justice Department has issued a statement that Speaker Hastert is not under investigation, and the Speaker's office is demanding a retraction from ABC.

no wonder why media like ABC are going south!!!!

Geez is there a Democrat who is not a criminal (Jefferson in LA, Clinton, Hillary etc?)

Corruption in Congress goes back so many years and against many there now and more that have left. Between political graft, pork spending (check the "Big Ditch" from $2B to $14+B") to current bribery and pay-offs for political favors. Why can't the public see that we need radical changes in Congress, both Dems and Reps. Let Justice investigate the whole bunch.

EVERY PERSON IN GOVERMENT SHOULD
BY LAW HAVE TO TAKE A LIE DECECTOR
TEST IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED THEM,LETS HAVE A REAL
GOVERMENT,BY HONEST PEOPLE ,..BUT ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY...GREED.

"ONCE PEOPLE BELIVE IN NOTHING...THEY'LL BELIVE IN ANYTHING"

JOHANN DOHMANN

Folks, the real bribery lies in the Budget Earmarks. THATS where the real graft is. Keep you eye on that.

Wires are circulating that the DOJ has been contacted and denied this story is true. What's going on? He's either "under investigation by the FBI" or he isn't.

Earliest on this thread, someone maligning "Republicans" as being a group of people who does not contain any one non-corrupt person:

More people have been investigated in one degree or another by the FBI and other efforts by law enforcement than most Democrats would ever admit or even be aware of, in my experience. It doesn't mean there's corruption present, it just means there's a possibility by affiliation.

I would not jump to conclude that Hastert (nor anyone in similar situations) is "corrupt" just by Party nor just by association. That's the purpose of an INVESTIGATION, to try to determine what's what (granted, with an access advantage when it's from a prosecutorial perspective).

Take a long look at the Democrats in our nation. Ted Kennedy, John Kerry...the Democrats in the House majority in the state of California, state legislature...the list is a long one of "corruption" for socio-political and often sheer egotistical and ambitions' incentive.

But it's important to keep in mind that whoever suggests a corrupt association or association for purposes of corruption should be exposed and penalized and booted out of elected office. I think the issues here are those of human ethics and human morality and not of political party as a defining characteristic in association with "corruption."

It's also important to remember that those investigated are almost always those in the scope to one degree or another of those who politically oppose them. Stare long enough at anyone in elected office, you'll find undue advantage somewhere to some extent. Among all politics, all party affiliations.

Greetings,

It is no wonder the Speaker for the United States House of Representatives, thereby being constitutionally authorized, in time of a national tradgedy to take over the role as president if our country were to suffer an unforseen loss of our President and or Vice President of the United States, was one of the first of our nations leaders to be "offended" by the FBI executing a search warrant on the Louisiana democratic congressman's office this past Saturday, as it directly relates to his being implicated in a bribery event himself.

As an American citizen, who fought in Desert Storm and continue to serve my country in a local community for which I am employed as a law enforcement official, am deeply troubled and appalled by our nations leaders for having a sense of being "above the law" when it comes to conducting the country's business.

If a regular american citizen, not entitled to the "perks" as are the elected officals, were to act in a manner consitent with the behavior of some of our elected leaders, he or she would have been remanded to the custody of the local sheriff and or state prison system upon the trial of said individual and be publicly scrutinized in a manner more severe than the elected officials would ever think of facing.

These elected officials need to understand that they are there strickly on the backs of the working class society and yet they continue to conduct themselves in a very scandalous manner.

I call for the immediate and unequivocal resignation of any all elected official and there staffs, if when all evidence comes to fruition that they were implicated in these criminal acts.

The American people need to be very worried as to how our elected leaders conduct themselves on our behalves. I am a Repulican voter, however, it is of my belief that the corruption freely flows on both sides of the isle and it needs to cease for the betterment of our country.

This is not a Republican and or Democratic issue, it is an American issue that needs to be addressed swiftly.

Thank you,

MLB

Instead of this being a chinese-water-torture, drip drip drip... I wish that ALL the people that are implicated by the now "cooperative" Mr. Abramoff would just be revealed. Get it overwith already!!!!

Neither party can afford to have this corruption scandal pushed under the rug. Finger the bad guys, force them to resign & let all the other hardworking Members of Congress - and the candidates for Congress get back to doing the people's business.

This is excruciating!

You're all a bunch of suckers! You'll fall for anything the media reports. Check this out:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OPA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2006 (202) 514-2007
WWW.USDOJ.GOV TDD (202) 514-1888

STATEMENT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

WASHINGTON, D.C.

"Speaker Hastert is not under investigation by the Justice Department."

###

Speaker’s Press Office

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: 202-225-2800

May 24, 2006 Ron Bonjean or Heidi Armstrong

Statement from Ron Bonjean, Communications Director

for Speaker Hastert

(Washington, D.C.) Ron Bonjean, Communications Director for Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) issued the following statement regarding the ABC Nightly News story that aired this evening:

“The ABC News report is absolutely untrue. As confirmed by the Justice Department, ‘Speaker Hastert is not under investigation by the Justice Department.’ We are demanding a full retraction of the ABC News story. The Speaker’s earlier statement issued today accurately reflects the facts regarding this matter.”

###

I am not surprised to find that most of the people posting think this is about hiding from guilt. The separation of powers is one of the most important of our constitutional rights to a free congress. The fact we have found democrats can be just as corrupt as republicans is really in the grand scheme of things is not only obvious but unimportant. We will always have corrupt politicians , it seems we may not always have the rights guaranteed us by our constitution. Next time the president may decide to take all power from the other branches of government. Perhaps taking away our right to vote. Bush has already crossed the line so many times people ignore the infractions on their rights. Once lost these rights are not easily regained. At this rate we will have dictatorship. Thank you mindless middle America you voted for him.

At least Bushes justice department is going after both republicans and democrats. Clintons Reno did nothing about all the obvious corruption.

I wonder if the President is making his move for absolute power. Sounds like this story is too close to Hastert's complaints of Executive abuse.

This administration is going to try and stay beyond 2008.

The Republican party is imploding, and out of the ashes, Bush will try to take absolute power.

They didn't do 911 for nothing.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we threw all of them out and started over with God loving, blue-collar Americans who knew what it was like to work 10 hours a day,52 weeks a year. McKinney can punch a cop and nothing happens, they all are untouchable and we Americans have let this happen. The enemy is truly from within.

Is there anyone in the "house" surprised about this so called revelation???

There all corrupt it seems like.
Big smiles, I passed this, I did that, look at this, and that and life goes on and nothing for the middle class changes. How much more can citizens take of this. Another slap on the wrist?

Federal officials, yeah they're never wrong. You've been played ABC the story isn't true. Why don't you tell us who those federal officials are. This is why Main Stream Medis is fading away.

Geez, is there a REPUBLICAN who is not a criminal? You Republican fools are still talking about the Clintons? Is that all you got?

The Republicans under indictment and investigation: Hastert, Delay, and Frist (The top 3 Republicans in Congress), Goss (head of CIA who had to step down), Abramoff (#1 lobbyist in DC), Safavian (Bush's budget head), Claude Allen (Bush's top policy advisor), Dusty Foggo (#3 at the CIA), Karl Rove (you know who he is), Scooter Libby, Cheney may be indicted, Bob Ney (top Republican congressman), Duke Cunningham (doing 8 years in prison), and the Abramoff investigation is just beginning.

To Jeff Rogers,

Why is it that all the people moaning about separation of powers fail to mention THE FEDERAL JUDGE who issued the warrent?

did not harry reid accept money from abramoff? where is your story on that corrupt person??????
Oh thats right he is on the left where you are

Brian Ross must be out with Jason Leopold wondering why they are so easy to be PUNKED by their "un named sources"

Hastert is full of beans, the Constitution does not prevent the search of Congressional offices under a warrant, only the arrest of a member going to or coming from a vote, or for voting a particular way. They are just as susceptable as any citizen to a warrant when issued by a judge - in this case it's a slam dunk. Folks, let's vote 'em all out and start over-it's high time for a house cleaning and term limits.

this is what pols do. they are usually some rich big shot type who get into politics to make more biz..from the mayor on up..its all about control....this is not a party thing. its a power thing.

Does anyone remember the Hudson Casino? This Clinton era scandal involved numerous Minnesota Congressman and Senators that wrote letters to the BIA to kill of the proposed casino in Hudson Wisconsin. The Hudson Casino would have competed with the Minnesota casinos who were giving large donations to the Minnesota congressional delegation, mostly Democrats. The independent counsel chose to ignore all of the congressman who wrote letters to the BIA, regardless of the donations received. So it would appear letters to the BIA don’t count.

I have been a Republican my entire life. I have voted for Bush twice. Isn't it time we impeached both Bush and Cheney? How about a third party?

The FBI ought to have something more than the testimony of a convicted crook before they send the Speaker of the House to prison.

Of course some members of Congress are too rich to have to steal. They do it recreationally...

Hastert don't look like he's been missing too many of them free lobbyist meals, does he?...

I think that the next American Revolution is long overdue. Not a violent one, but a revolution nevertheless. The two party system is failing us as is the checks and balance system. But perhaps the politicians will realize that the American people will not take this anymore and maybe change their strategies. That may be wishful thinking, but not completely out of sight yet.

DOJ denies report. They state that Hastert is not under investigation. Did Ross check with DOJ before reporting? Are his "federal officials" DOJ, or another outside agency? Tell me he at least asked the DOJ, and if he did why didn't he include their answer in his report. I am not saying Hastert is guilty or innocent. But I would think that he would have at least asked DOJ before he jumped the gun.

Yay, yay! This wills surely dwarf the Jefferson story! Brian Ross always comes through for us!

Is ABC News trying to one-up Dan