Bush Halts Probe of Jefferson

I'm not sure just what President Bush is thinking by injecting himself into the investigation of Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA):

President Bush stepped into the Justice Department's constitutional confrontation with Congress on Thursday and ordered that documents seized in an FBI raid on a lawmaker's office be sealed for 45 days.

The president directed that no one involved in the investigation have access to the documents taken last weekend from the office of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., and that they remain in the custody of the Justice Department's solicitor general.

Bush's move was described as an attempt to cool off a heated confrontation between his administration and leaders of House leaders of both parties, particularly Speaker Dennis Hastert.

Hastert and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said they were asking the House counsel to meet with the Justice Department to work out a resolution.

Bush's order "gives us some time to step back and try to negotiate with the Department of Justice," said Hastert.

I'm sure if regular folks find themselves under investigation, the Department of Justice will allow them to "step back and negotiate" as well.

Captain Ed thinks Bush is throwing a lifeline to Hastert to take his protests out of the news before he makes a complete donkey of himself. I'm not so sure. I think the complaints about separation of powers are nonsense, and delaying this investigation is simply delaying justice.