It seems like it should be a big deal: the leaders of both parties and one of the more infamous right-wingers all join to condemn it, it hasn't happened in 219 years, and by gosh it just sounds so like Bush-trampling-on-the-Constitution.
I'm sorry, I just don't think it is a big deal. My bullet point take below:
● Jefferson is guilty (He gets no presumption of innocence from me).
● The crimes of which he is guilty are, well, BIG ONES. Not blow jobs. Not seditious criticism of the war. Not the next Gettysburg address. Not a DKos diary entry debating Amana vs. Frigidaire freezers.
● The FBI is on the case (and they are the appropriate law enforcement agency).
● The FBI has previously served a subpoena for certain documents and evidence in Jefferson's office (last fall).
● Jefferson reported the subpoena to the House, but both the House and Jefferson blew the FBI off.
● Judge Thomas Hogan actually suggested (sorry, it wasn't Bush) to the FBI that they serve and execute the search warrant at his office. (Discussed here.)
● The FBI prepared a 95 page affidavit in support of the warrant. (Read it here).
● Yes, that would be ninety-five pages (and I bet you won't read it all now will you?).
● 95 freakin' pages of probable cause reviewed and approved by a neutral magistrate (actually the Judge himself not some lackey minimum wage retired police officer magistrate) who then issued the search warrant.
● The FBI and the court went to great lengths to protect matters (see page 74 et seq.) that might be protected in the Speech and Debate Clause (read an annotated explanation of S & D Clause here).
● Yes, our country had a great deal of experience with the Colonial legislatures and legislators being intimidated, arrested, disbanded, etc. But we both know this isn't that in any shape, form or fashion, and just because this occurred this time does not mean Pandora's box is opened.
● Yes, Congress can and does serve subpoenas on the Executive (but they've not yet sent over the Capitol Police to enforce since the Executive has always deferred to the Judicial on issues of executive privilege and separation of powers).
Honestly, what's the big deal?