Imagine that. Another Congressman trying to cover his behind. Abusing power; Check. Disgracing the job; Check. He needs to step down. Quit embarrasing yourself, Quit embarrasing America, and the values we promote. If it were a "regular Joe", poor Joe wouldn't be allowed to continue on, now would he?

Is someone trying to hide something under the proverbial rug?.

If William Jefferson, Democrat from Louisana, is not on the committee it is the hoped that 'the headlines will go away'?

Is this a coverup by the leadership of the minority party? I thought only those corrupt scounderals in the White House did these types of things.

Amusing that members of Congress see their offices as some sort of island onto themselves and beyond the grasp of federal law enforcement. My home, my office, my car can all be searched with reasonable suspicion and search warrant. What makes members of Congress so special? The arrogance is unbelievable.

I love how congress is "UP IN ARMS" about the "ILLEGAL" search of Jefferson's congressional offices. What's wrong, Congress, you don't like BIG BROTHER spying on you??!! Then why do you (mostly republicans) insist on allowing the government to spy on ordinary American's phone calls and emails, without a shred of probable cause? Why are you insisting the Justice Department return the documents to Jefferson, when they obtained a SEARCH WARRANT for them?? But then, you are happy to allow the government to snoop into our lives at will. How much more hypocritical can you be, Congress?

“stepping down would unfairly punish his constituents”

err….he really meant those that have invested/contributed highly for awarded earmarks

“discriminatory since "no other member of Congress currently under federal investigation has been asked to step down from a substantive, legislative committee assignment."”

Since the only other ones currently under investigation are from the “party of corruption”, this is a non-starter, Pelosi has no say with that party, that’s boner’s job.

Jefferson, you need to get your personal affairs in order and prepare yourself to wearing orange….heed the advice and take a hike….

“My home, my office, my car can all be searched with reasonable suspicion and search warrant.”

Just a point of clarification…..it’s “Probable” not “reasonable”. There is a difference, not that the twit in the WH cares…..but he will sometime in the future….

so the fbi can't investigate congress but congress can investigate the fbi. Where's the separation of powers? So as long as one commits a crime within the confines of his/her congressional office or hides evidence of a crime it's off limits? I say if it's part of an investigation, you have probable cause and a federal judge signs off on the warrant then go for it (and in this case special safeguards were in place). It can't be helped if someones' toes get stepped on in the process of pursuing justice.

When is the last time you can remember that government actually inspired the public? It's sad that our government has no vision other than targeting third-world countries who take advantage of our weaknesses. It's not just the terrorists who caused 9/11 -- what about the FAA and the airlines? We could have always had better security, but corporate America wants bigger profits for the CEO's retirement packages. Forget "We the People". It's all about who can line the deep pockets in America. We have the worst President in recent history who has made America dishonorable, distrusted and disliked worldwide. His pockets are lined with gold from Enron, Halliburton, the Oil Giants and the greediest of Corporate America. We are rotten to the core and we need to clean out Washington D.C. this next election -- all of them -- Democrats and Republicans alike!

If there's money in one freezer there's got to be more.

Don't you think asking him to step down is the right thing to do? I think Pelosi is doing the right thing - perfectly consistent with her attempts to rid Washington DC of its culture of corruption. The investigation doesn't stop just because he steps down.

Someone tell the Congresshumans that if they want total immunity from US Law on US soil they need only resign and join the UN. Otherwise, welcome to our world.

What a joke, separation of powers my ***. This guy has got to go. If the people of LA have any self respect they'll vote the crook out. Unfortunately, they'll probably do just like the rest of american voters and assume that the allegations are somehow racially or politically motivated. I say let's vote all the creeps out. We need an entirely new house and senate that doesn't take money from anyone in an amount greater than the few hundreds most of us can afford. Anyone giving more isn't doing so without expecting something back anyway. The current crop of Demo-publicans are sucking us dry while they get rich. You're a fool if you think it's just one party or the other that's corrupt. Corruption is a personal choice, but It's also systemic. It won't get better until we change the laws so that the penalties for this kind of crime is far worse than the current wrist-slapping and handwringing which is the norm.

We need term limits on the entire senate and house !!!!
Why do have a senator from a very very small state have so much power
because the people in that state can not find a competant replacement? Every thing is on senority. That goes for democrates and republicans.

Why do we try to push our way of government on other countries. Maybe we should get our own act together

Maybe here in America even politicians are innocent until proven guilty?
And as a person that lives in Louisiana...while other politicians were stating that new Orleans should be allowed to molder, Jefferson and Landreiu fought for us.
Maybe the people of Louisiana can decide about their representitives.
I think that Pelosi was right to ask him to step dowm.. no one with the hint of wrong doing should be on any importamt committee. He would still be investigated.

Editorials have appeared lately saying that corruption is impeding the establishment of democracy in Iraq. They must be implying that there is not sufficient corruption for the establishment of democracy there. If we view our system, which is held as the paragon of democracy, corruption seems to be one of the pillars supporting at least two of the three branches of government.

Maybe some folks need to read the Constitution.

Guess the "Culture of Corruption" occurs on both sides of the aisle. They're all pigs at the trough, both parties, and we're the dopes that keep them in office.

Jefferson's office being searched is baseed on Scarborough precedent of investigati- errrr, of looking the other way at the appropriate time.

It's ok if you're a republican...

Another wonderful example of the thieves watching the thieves.

jefferson is like all that get caught. The man behind the cutain is not the wizard and you. mr jefferson on no wizard. la politicians have always been corrupt. ONly a feww like jindal and vitter are worth the pay they earne as congressman, Shame on organize old party corruption the new oleans machine caught again.