Boehner gets an earful on Jefferson raid protest

House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) hinted yesterday that he heard a number of complaints during campaign stops last week protesting congressional opposition to the search of Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) Capitol Hill office.

“There was some concern raised,” Boehner said about the feedback he heard from voters at fundraisers during last week’s recess.

Boehner made campaign appearances during the recess for Republican Reps. John Hostettler (Ind.), Steve LaTourette (Ohio), Anne Northup (Ky.), Mike Sodrel (Ind.) and Patrick Tiberi (Ohio).

In characterizing those complaints, the House majority leader said many voters were unclear about the potential constitutional implications of the FBI’s raid on Jefferson’s office last month.

“The allegations against Jefferson are very serious,” Boehner told reporters during his weekly media briefing before saying there were also some constitutional questions that were necessary to address. “We’ve got to walk a very fine line,” he said.

An ABC News poll conducted at the end of May demonstrated overwhelming support for the search of Jefferson’s office. Of the 1,044 adults polled, 86 percent thought the FBI should be allowed to search the office of a member of Congress if the investigators first secured a warrant, while only 10 percent disagreed.