California Rep. John Doolittle said Thursday that the Justice Department has issued subpoenas to him and five of his staff members seeking office records going back 11 years in connection to the congressman’s relationship with jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Doolittle’s attorney indicated that he might fight having to comply.

Doolittle, a Republican, declined further comment about the subpoenas. But his criminal defense attorney, David Barger, said in a prepared statement that the subpoenas “raise serious constitutional issues going to the very core” of the separation of powers between the Congress and the executive branch.

The statement didn’t say what records are being sought but said they include “virtually every record, including legislative records, for the congressman for the past 11 years.”

McClatchy

Anyone who can read between the lines can see there is a lot of shady business that went on here, which really makes it somewhat disgraceful that Barger would raise questions of Constitutionality. Doolittle needs to do his constituency and the GOP a favor and not run for reelection next year. He already has a primary challenger.