众议院议长迈克·约翰逊尚未就此次搜查涉及的言论与辩论条款问题表态，尽管众议院在其他调查中有时需要数周才能阐明立场。
Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to weigh in on the speech-or-debate implications of the raid, though the House has sometimes taken weeks to articulate a position in other investigations.
众议院共和党人公开为特朗普政府调查众议员伊尔汗·奥马尔摇旗呐喊。但在姿态表演之下，此次搜查引发了棘手的非党派问题：国会究竟想以多大力度捍卫自身免受联邦检察官的侵犯。
House Republicans have publicly cheered on the Trump administration’s investigation of Rep. Ilhan Omar. But underneath the posturing, the raid raises thorny nonpartisan questions about how aggressively Congress wants to defend itself from encroaching federal prosecutors.
上周搜查奥马尔华盛顿住所的国土安全部调查人员，是在寻找与这位明尼苏达州民主党籍众议员移民历史有关的证据。但他们搜查后还带走了她的个人手机，其中很可能包含大量与奥马尔在国会山履职相关的记录——这是两党都极力想要保密的内容。
The Department of Homeland Security investigators who raided Omar’s Washington home last week were searching for evidence related to the Minnesota Democrat’s immigration history. But they also emerged in possession of her personal phone, which likely includes a trove of records related to Omar’s work at the Capitol — records that both parties have a strong interest in keeping private.
议员们使用手机和电脑与助手沟通即将进行的表决、委员会听证会以及起草或提交法案。他们通过短信和电子邮件与同事交流众议院工作。他们还与选民、顾问、律师和专家探讨关键的国会决策。宪法的“言论与辩论”条款使此类材料绝对免受联邦检察官审查，仅有极少数例外。
Lawmakers use their cellphones and computers to communicate with aides about upcoming votes, committee hearings and drafting or filing legislation. They text and email colleagues about the work of the House. And they talk to constituents, advisers, attorneys and experts about crucial congressional decisions. The Constitution’s “speech or debate” clause makes such material absolutely immune from scrutiny by federal prosecutors, with few exceptions.
建国先贤采纳这些保护措施，是为了确保行政部门不能利用其执法权力惩罚或胁迫国会中的对手。即使在当今高度两极分化的时代，这一原则依然将民主党人和共和党人团结在一起。
The founders adopted those protections to ensure the executive branch could not use its law enforcement power to punish or coerce opponents in Congress. That principle has united Democrats and Republicans, even in this hyperpolarized era.