Bush orders Jefferson's seized documents sealed

President Bush got involved in the brewing war between congress and the Justice Department today, ordering a seal on documents that the FBI confiscated during a raid on a congressman's office.

The president directed that no one involved in the investigation have access to the documents taken last weekend from the office of Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record), D-La., and that they remain in the custody of the solicitor general.

Bush's move was described as an attempt to cool off a heated confrontation between his administration and leaders of the House and Senate.

"This period will provide both parties more time to resolve the issues in a way that ensures that materials relevant to the ongoing criminal investigation are made available to prosecutors in a manner that respects the interests of a coequal branch of government," Bush said.

Bush would not have taken this action merely on Jefferson's behalf. The risk to Republican members of congress must be more profound than investigators or the press have determined.