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We'll quit if bribe inquiry halted, say US law chiefs Francis Harris / London Telegraph | May 29 2006 Three of America's top law officers, among them the head of the FBI, have threatened to step down over alleged attempts to halt an investigation into congressional corruption. Alberto Gonzales, the attorney general, Paul McNulty, his deputy, and Robert Mueller, the FBI director, informed President George W Bush through intermediaries last week that they would resign rather than let the inquiry be blocked. Their stand marked the latest twist in a saga which began when 15 FBI agents raided the offices of William Jefferson, a Democratic congressman at the centre of eight bribery investigations. The search was the first by law enforcement officers of a congressman's office in American history. The 18-hour operation provoked an outraged response from both parties in Congress and a demand by its senior leaders that the seized papers be returned. But as congressmen, led by the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, lobbied the White House, the law enforcement chiefs made it known they would leave if Mr Bush bowed to pressure, according to numerous accounts in the American press. Such threats from figures of this seniority are extremely unusual and indicate how high the stakes have now become. Anxious to avert a disastrous confrontation between his administration and his party, Mr Bush decided to seal material taken in the search for 45 days to allow further talks between Congress and law enforcement officials. Although the president won praise for brokering a compromise to temporarily defuse the row, the controversy has refused to go away. The uneasy truce came under renewed pressure yesterday when another powerful congressman, James Sensenbrenner, indicated that legislators were still furious at the raid. The Republican chairman of the influential House of Representatives judiciary committee promised hearings into the raid this week. 'This is not over whether congressman Jefferson is guilty of an offence, but it is about the ability of Congress to do its job free of coercion,'' Mr Sensenbrenner said. Congressmen from both parties have said the search violated the constitutional rights of the legislature. Some are even demanding they be given advance notice of future FBI raids. Their grievances have provoked a series of intense attacks from the world outside Capitol Hill, with critics alleging Congress is seeking to place itself above the law. The FBI raid was sanctioned in a search warrant issued by a federal judge. A wide range of legal experts and political commentators said the law was applied correctly and that congressional rage is unjustified. Prof Merle Black, of Emory University told the Chicago Tribune: 'They seem to be saying 'You can't touch us. We're members of Congress.' '' Many critics suggested that some congressmen are worried they too could face FBI raids given the numerous investigations currently under way into alleged corruption. Mr Jefferson is said to feature in at least eight bribery investigations and FBI agents have already disclosed that they found $90,000 (£47,000) wrapped in tin foil in his freezer. The New Orleans congressman has not yet been charged and denies any wrongdoing. ---------------------------------------------------
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