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BumRushDaShow

(143,331 posts)
Thu Oct 10, 2024, 04:58 AM Oct 10

'Another Apparent Trump Crime': Susan Rice Argues Trump's Reported Calls With Putin Could Be Illegal

Source: MEDIAite

Oct 9th, 2024, 6:05 pm


Susan Rice, the former UN ambassador under President Barack Obama and aide to President Joe Biden, argued that former President Donald Trump may have broken the law with his reported phone calls to Vladimir Putin as a private citizen.

Former United States Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman wrote on X that the new reporting from Bob Woodward on Tuesday about Trump’s continued ties to Putin shows that “Clearly @realDonaldTrump works for Vladimir Putin; not for the American people. Dangerous, outrageous, disloyal, disqualifying.”

Rice replied to Sherman and added, “Additionally, this would seem to be a violation of the Logan Act. Exactly what Trump falsely accused John Kerry of. Another apparent Trump crime.” Woodward’s reporting says that Trump spoke to Putin at least seven times since leaving office in 2021 and also revealed that Trump sent Putin Covid-19 testing kits during a shortage in the U.S. while he was president.

The Hill explains that the Logan Act makes it “illegal for American citizens to negotiate with foreign governments in dispute with the United States without prior approval, was introduced in 1799 and is meant to prevent unauthorized diplomacy from undermining the current administration’s position.”

Read more: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/another-apparent-trump-crime-susan-rice-argues-trumps-reported-calls-with-putin-could-be-illegal/

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Lonestarblue

(11,906 posts)
1. Trump has been conducting foreign policy from MAL.
Thu Oct 10, 2024, 05:36 AM
Oct 10

Except his policy is to promise benefits to US enemies if they help him get re-elected.

no_hypocrisy

(49,014 posts)
2. Another Logan Act violation(a):
Thu Oct 10, 2024, 05:49 AM
Oct 10

1. Bibi Netanyahu
2. Viktor Orban

Both stayed at Mar-A-Lago and met with Trump.

TwilightZone

(28,834 posts)
7. Meeting with leaders is not, in itself, a violation.
Thu Oct 10, 2024, 08:47 AM
Oct 10

The Act criminalizes negotiating a dispute between the US and a foreign leader. I doubt that Trump is engaging in diplomacy or negotiating anything. I suspect he's just kissing ass.

Eyeball_Kid

(7,581 posts)
10. Don't expect the DOJ to break a sweat with Trump's commission of crimes.
Thu Oct 10, 2024, 11:16 AM
Oct 10

The DOJ is as soft as marshmallows when it comes to Trump's immersion in crimes. They seem incredibly reluctant to act. This reluctance has been going on for decades. My question is: WHO BENEFITS?

Farmer-Rick

(11,491 posts)
4. Didn't Clarance Thomas do this same thing?
Thu Oct 10, 2024, 07:25 AM
Oct 10

He met with Putin in his golden palace in Russia.

I'm sure The Supreme Court Justice Clarance Thomas was meeting with Putin because he loves the USA and respects our constitution.....sure......

harumph

(2,355 posts)
5. Some DUrs have commented that the Logan Act (as written) is unconstitutional.
Thu Oct 10, 2024, 08:11 AM
Oct 10

Assuming control of congress, could the Logan Act be rewritten to satisfy First Amendment considerations?
What would that look like?

TwilightZone

(28,834 posts)
6. A court in 1964 said it was too vague.
Thu Oct 10, 2024, 08:43 AM
Oct 10

So, it would presumably need to be made more specific.

It also doesn't really apply here. It criminalizes negotiation of a dispute between the US and another country. I doubt that what Trump is doing with these foreign leaders is anything resembling diplomacy or negotiation. I think it's more likely he's just kissing ass.

There's never been a conviction under the Act. The last attempted prosecution was in 1852.

usonian

(14,279 posts)
8. The first amendment says nothing about money, IIRC
Thu Oct 10, 2024, 08:53 AM
Oct 10

So, does Thomas's motor home require parts from O'Russkie Auto Parts? Enquiring minds want to know.

For "some people" money is all that matters.

Dictators from the right, left, Catholic or Islamic theocracies agree on the green (or bitcoin).

North Korea is largely funded by bitcoin theft.

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