Hessick quoted in the `Republic’

10/21/2008

Hessick quoted in the `Republic'
Andy Hessick Sep 08
Andy Hessick
     A column in the Oct. 21 edition of The Arizona Republic about an Arizona congressman's attempts to have 35 federal criminal charges against him dropped included perspective from Associate Professor Andy Hessick.
     In "Does Renzi have a get-out-of-jail-free card?", columnist E.J. Montini questioned the validity of attorneys for U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi using a Constitutional clause that says representatives and senators can't be prosecuted for activities carried out as part of their legislative duties.
     "Essentially, the speech-or-debate clause is meant to protect members of the legislative branch from being intimidated or stifled by the executive branch," Hessick told Montini.
     Other members of Congress currently are trying to use the loophole to have allegations of wrongdoing against them dismissed, but Hessick said such a defense is "walking a very tight line.
     "It's a tough question and how the courts rule will probably depend on the precise character of each document or bit of testimony," he said.
      To read the rest of the story, click here.
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