House Republicans cheered Bush’s decision to seal the records seized from Jefferson’s
office, because they believed the raid violated Congress’s prerogatives.But some worried that the constitutional victory for Hastert would be a public-relations
problem for the rest of them. They fear that the nuances of constitutional principle
will mean little to voters who conclude that the GOP, which aims to be the “law-and-order”
party, is now on the wrong side of the law by challenging law-enforcement officials
pursuing a bribery investigation.“It’s a challenge” to explain to constituents, said Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif. “People
are painting this as members of Congress being above the law.”
Controversy
finds Hastert as former Bush loyalist becomes critic
