Can you sue a congressman for violating his oath of office?

[elfs]

Right now, if you sue the government for violating your Constitution rights and the government is found to be in the wrong, the government has to pay your legal fees. After all, they're the offending party.

If you read this press release, you will learn that Congresswank John Hostettler has introduced a bill into the House that would revise Civil Rights laws so that, in Establishment cases (cases where one's religious liberties have been violated by state action), the government does not pay legal fees.

Got that? It used to be that if you won a case against the government, you did not have to bankrupt yourself in the process. Now, if you're going to sue the government to retain your religious liberties (but no other freedoms), you'd better have deep pockets.

Don't congressmen swear to honor and uphold the Constitution?

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Sure they swore. With their fingers crossed and elbow-deep in the cookie jar. Does anyone care? Not many.

Our job is to make them care. The people at large, and the politicians.

By. Whatever. Means. Necessary. Modulo common sense.

As I said elsejournal yesterday, if the law is an ass, it's up to us to kick it.

[blaisepascal]

No, you can't. The Constitution grants Congresscritters immunity from legal action related to their work in Congress. Specifically, Article I, Section 6, Clause 1: ".... [The Senators and Representatives] shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance...and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place."