Something Else For Boehner's "Trusted Hands"

It looks like House Minority Leader John Boehner (pronounced bo-ner) is about to end up $1 million richer as a result of a lawsuit filed against U.S. House Dem Rep Jim McDermott (as noted here)…

The case dealt with an illegally intercepted phone call in 1996 involving Boehner that later was handed over to McDermott, who then leaked it to two newspapers.

Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan ruled after the Supreme Court in December refused to hear the broader constitutional challenge by McDermott over whether he has legal protection as a lawmaker.

Hogan earlier had found the Washington Democrat violated a federal wiretapping law and ordered him to pay $60,000 in damages to Boehner, along with "reasonable" attorney fees.

It is believed to be the first time a Capitol Hill lawmaker has successfully sued a fellow member.

"Congressman McDermott broke the law, and as a result, he shattered the bonds of trust between our institution and the men and women we represent in the halls of Congress," said Boehner in a statement Tuesday.

Interesting note about Judge Hogan, by the way: he signed the search warrant authorizing the FBI to search the Capitol building offices of U.S. Congressman William Jefferson, the only such search in United States history (he was also appointed in 1982 under Ronnie Baby – just sayin’).

Oh, and one more thing; this tells us that the Supremes, despite a request from Bushco, aren’t going to rule on the Jefferson case, thereby letting stand a lower court ruling that the FBI went too far in searching Jefferson’s quarters (good move, Your Honor).

And oh yes, this gives Boehner such an opportunity to be shocked – yea and verily, truly shocked! – over the behavior of that Democratic ruffian McDermott (truth be told, yeah, McDermott probably should have at least turned the tape over to the DNC and let them make the call so Boehner wouldn’t be able to personally go after him).

But it’s a funny thing – I happened to come across this story from 2005 concerning the Republican Party of Virginia which intercepted two private phone calls by state Democratic Party members. Upon realizing they were caught, the Repugs settled, but…

"Quite beyond the legal question, this is an effort by the Republican Party of Virginia to avoid responsibility for their actions," Arlington Democratic Del. Bob Brink said on Thursday, referring to the recent news that the state GOP is suing its liability-insurance carrier for breach of contract because the carrier said that it would not cover the $750,000 that the party paid to Virginia Democrats to settle their claim.

Brink and three other state legislators who were original parties to the suit charged that the RPV's suit against the Lincoln, Neb.,-based Union Insurance Co. is "an abuse of the legal process," to use Brink's words, because the party had noted in a disclosure statement filed in conjunction with the 2004 legal action that it had no relevant insurance agreements in place at that time.

…

The party's former executive director, Ed Matricardi, and former party chairman Gary Thomson pled guilty to charges related to the intercepted phone calls.

…

"Had we been told that there was an insurance company, and that the insurance company was going to assume the responsibility, and that it would cost the Republican Party of Virginia nothing, I think we'd have been much less likely to have settled," (Lebanon Democratic Sen. Phil) Puckett said.

…

Arlington Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple was more direct.

"I don't like being lied to," Whipple said. "I think that's awful. It bothers me that an important entity like the Republican Party of Virginia would be willing to lie, both to us and the court. I think that's terrible."

So basically, cut out the “holier than thou” act, Boehner. Both sides engage in this stuff from time to time and should be penalized accordingly.

If you don’t get off your high horse, then I’ll bring up your truly cozy relationship with Sallie Mae again, OK?