Can US representative just blatantly undermine US foreign policy, or is this one of those things where it’s wrong but won’t be pursued in any official way?
Well, there’s the the Logan Act [18 U.S.C. § 953], which on its face seems to make that sort of thing illegal:
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United
States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with
any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or
controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be
fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Buuuut: there appears to be no history of prosecuting people under this act despite it being enacted for 200 years, so don’t expect it to be enforced
I think it was the Logan Act I was thinking of! Thanks!
Disappointing that it’s never been enforced. While this scenario is not the makings of an diplomatic crisis, it seems a pretty cut and dry example of what the Logan Act seeks to block. It’s a U.S. rep blatantly pushing acting against US diplomatic interests.
I think it would be utter chaos, but I’d love just a single solid year of throwing the book at obvious illegal behavior no matter how trivial. Put the fear of God in some of these morons.
Well, there’s the the Logan Act [18 U.S.C. § 953], which on its face seems to make that sort of thing illegal:
Buuuut: there appears to be no history of prosecuting people under this act despite it being enacted for 200 years, so don’t expect it to be enforced
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/RL33265.pdf
I think it was the Logan Act I was thinking of! Thanks!
Disappointing that it’s never been enforced. While this scenario is not the makings of an diplomatic crisis, it seems a pretty cut and dry example of what the Logan Act seeks to block. It’s a U.S. rep blatantly pushing acting against US diplomatic interests.
I think it would be utter chaos, but I’d love just a single solid year of throwing the book at obvious illegal behavior no matter how trivial. Put the fear of God in some of these morons.