Update 6: Official Details FBI-Congress Standoff - Forbes.com

Yesterday's Hearing in the House featured a few of our better known Constitutional Lawyers, including Truley and Fein.

Esssentially, they said that there were mechanisms in place, which the DOJ could have easily used, but chose not to. In other words this constitutional crisis could have been easily avoided.

Oh, and here is, to me, the real kicker. The warrant they used to raid Jefferson's office, was a 'form warrant,' signed offf on by a judge, with no special instructions.

Something very strange is unfolding here, and it is not just about seperation of powers, though, lord knows that would be enough, especially these days.

Update 6: Official Details FBI-Congress Standoff - Forbes.com:

"The constitutional showdown that followed the FBI's search of a congressman's office came down to this: The House threatened budgetary retaliation against the Justice Department. Justice officials raised the prospect of resigning.

That scenario, as described Saturday by a senior administration official, set the stage for President Bush's intervention into the fight over the FBI's search of the office of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., an eight-term lawmaker being investigated on bribery allegations.

During contentious conversations between the Department of Justice and the House, top law enforcement officials indicated that they'd rather quit than return documents FBI agents, armed with a warrant, seized in an overnight search of Jefferson's office, the administration official said. "