A new website called LegiStorm has got a bunch of top House staffers pretty upset. LegiStorm has been publishing information related to their personal finances and it is causing quite a stir:

In an unusual conflict over constitutional rights, the aides argue that the recent disclosures leave them highly vulnerable to identity theft. But the Web site, LegiStorm, contends that it has a First Amendment right to publish already public information about some of the Capitol’s most powerful players — the high-level staffers — and is creating a new check against potential corruption.

“Congressional staffers are among the most powerful people in Washington, and in the past they have received very little scrutiny. It’s about time there was a little more scrutiny given to what they’re doing,” said Jock Friedly, president and founder of LegiStorm, which has six employees. [The Washington Post]

LegiStorm has published financial data for years but only recently began putting staffers personal financial disclosure forms online.

to learn more about this story and to check up on staffers salaries and spending.

Somehow I can’t but wonder if Lester Freamon is really the man behind LegiStorm (see below for a classic Clay Davis moment related to the financial hunt of Freamon). Reading this story makes me want to watch The Wire all over again.