Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Illegal Diplomacy - Did Nancy Pelosi Violate the Logan Act?
Opinion Journal ^ | Monday, April 2, 2007 12:01 a.m. EDT | ROBERT F. TURNER

Posted on 04/06/2007 3:19:45 PM PDT by Uncle Peter

Illegal Diplomacy?

Did Nancy Pelosi commit a felony when she went to Syria?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may well have committed a felony in traveling to Damascus this week, against the wishes of the president, to communicate on foreign-policy issues with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The Logan Act makes it a felony and provides for a prison sentence of up to three years for any American, "without authority of the United States," to communicate with a foreign government in an effort to influence that government's behavior on any "disputes or controversies with the United States." Some background on this statute helps to understand why Ms. Pelosi may be in serious trouble.


Vote in our MicroPoll


(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: democrats; dhimmicrats; islamophiles; islamophilia; loganact; muhammadsminions; pelosi; prosecutepelosi; sedition; syria; treason; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-84 next last

1 posted on 04/06/2007 3:19:46 PM PDT by Uncle Peter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Yes!


2 posted on 04/06/2007 3:20:44 PM PDT by RacerX1128
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

She should be arrested. Talk about “culture of corruption”!!


3 posted on 04/06/2007 3:23:10 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Sanjaya 2008. He couldn't be worse than those really running.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

4 posted on 04/06/2007 3:23:38 PM PDT by Wolverine (A Concerned Citizen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Special Prosecutor Ann Coulter


5 posted on 04/06/2007 3:23:52 PM PDT by CIDKauf (No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter
Obviously.

Will anyone do anything about it?

Obviously not.

6 posted on 04/06/2007 3:25:28 PM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

What difference does it make? George Bush is the president he will never allow the Justice Department go after a fellow politician.


7 posted on 04/06/2007 3:25:42 PM PDT by thiscouldbemoreconfusing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Yes. I request an Independent Special Prosecutor look into this and the series of events prior to Nancy’s trip.


8 posted on 04/06/2007 3:25:53 PM PDT by petitfour
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Probably, but apparently law doesn’t mean much anymore.


9 posted on 04/06/2007 3:26:30 PM PDT by RightWhale (3 May '07 3:14 PM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

I just voted yes in the poll. So far its 96% to 4% in our favor.

We need to do everything possible to ensure that Pelosi is charged with a felony.

Write to your representative
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Also write letters to the editor if you can, it’ll help sway public opinion against Pelosi.


10 posted on 04/06/2007 3:26:53 PM PDT by rob21 (Duncan Hunter 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

As a member of Congress I believe she is protected by congressional immunity as long as there is no hint of personal financial profit from her wrongdoing.


11 posted on 04/06/2007 3:27:04 PM PDT by xkaydet65
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Works for me!


12 posted on 04/06/2007 3:28:16 PM PDT by Renkluaf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Very interesting. I would like to hear from a Freeper lawyer give his/her opinion how Nancy could be exempt from the Logan Act. Im sure there is some loophole or angle that would exclude her from prosecution. I mean c’mon! This would just be too good to be true.


13 posted on 04/06/2007 3:29:27 PM PDT by DogBarkTree (The United States failure to act against Iran will be seen as weakness throughout the Muslim world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Our immigration laws don’t seem to mean anything anymore, so why should something like the Logan Act be any different?

Every single one of our “leaders” is either directly or indirectly systematically destroying this country. And yes, it goes right on up to the President.


14 posted on 04/06/2007 3:31:46 PM PDT by frankiep (Beer - the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Yes, she did. However, the Logan Act has never been enforced, and I doubt it will be in this case. Plenty of state governors, members of Congress, and even one ex-President (Carter) have violated the act through the years since it’s been on the books. I think Carter and Pelosi’s violations are the most egregious, but Clinton did nothing about Carter’s meeddling in North Korea, and nothing will be done to Pelosi now. BTW, Jesse Jackson may have violated the Act several times when he negotiated with foreign governments for prisoner releases. In his case, it’s not clear if he had presidential OK’s.


15 posted on 04/06/2007 3:32:02 PM PDT by Wolfstar (When you whip the good guys into rage at the wrong enemy, don't be surprised when the bad guys win.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thiscouldbemoreconfusing

He would not have a congress left if he used this law. The whole slew of them went over there the last couple years. Just days ago three Republican traitors went over and did the same thing. They all should be in jail. It kills me that the Republicans went....turds!!!!!!!!!!


16 posted on 04/06/2007 3:32:04 PM PDT by napscoordinator (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: xkaydet65

I believe that as a Democrat member of Congress, she is protected even if there were personal financial profits. In support, I cite the case of Rep. “Cold Cash” Jefferson, D-La. Cold Cash was caught with $90,000 of currency in his freezer. The guy who gave him the frozen dough was convicted of bribery. Cold Cash is free as a bird.


17 posted on 04/06/2007 3:33:20 PM PDT by csn vinnie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: newzjunkey
There is no-bod-ee with big enough balls in DOD that will even "look into" the trip, let alone file charges. If they will not do anything about Sandy Burgler, William Jefferson, Chuckie Shumer, et al.......what makes people think that they will even consider, maybe, perhaps looking into violations of the Logan act.

Forget it folks, Sanfran Nan is home free.

18 posted on 04/06/2007 3:33:37 PM PDT by B.O. Plenty (Give war a chance...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: DogBarkTree
I believe this is all a lot of silly talk. She's flying a U.S. military jet whose flights -- especially the international ones -- require numerous approvals from up and down a chain of command in the executive branch of government, which tells me that this trip must have been done with the tacit approval of the White House.
19 posted on 04/06/2007 3:34:50 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (Can money pay for all the days I lived awake but half asleep?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: RightWhale

20 posted on 04/06/2007 3:35:11 PM PDT by Diogenesis (Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter
The links for some reason go to a John Fund column on Giuliani. Turner's article is here.

But consider this statement by Albert Gallatin, the future Secretary of the Treasury under President Thomas Jefferson, who was wary of centralized government: "it would be extremely improper for a member of this House to enter into any correspondence with the French Republic . . . As we are not at war with France, an offence of this kind would not be high treason, yet it would be as criminal an act, as if we were at war."

Mr. Turner was acting assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs in 1984-85 and is a former chairman of the ABA standing committee on law and national security.

21 posted on 04/06/2007 3:36:01 PM PDT by maryz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xkaydet65

Members of congress are immune from arrest while congress is in session and they are in the chambers. Otherwise, they are subject to all laws of the land.


22 posted on 04/06/2007 3:36:14 PM PDT by Wolfstar (When you whip the good guys into rage at the wrong enemy, don't be surprised when the bad guys win.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter
No one has ever been tried for violating the Logan Act.  Only one person has ever been indicted and it was 204 years ago.  As much as I'd like to get Pelosi on the stand for anything, this one isn't going to fly.
23 posted on 04/06/2007 3:36:26 PM PDT by HawaiianGecko (Mosquitoes remind us that we are not as high up on the food chain as we think...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

If anything, a felony charge would put her on defense. Then, the more she opens her mouth and tries to defend herself, the more stupid she will sound. Ok, maybe not to the people of Frisco.


24 posted on 04/06/2007 3:37:52 PM PDT by SMM48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

FREEP THIS POLL!


25 posted on 04/06/2007 3:38:04 PM PDT by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

It is time for Pelosi to realize she is “NOT” president.


26 posted on 04/06/2007 3:38:10 PM PDT by Paige ("Facts are stubborn things. " President Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xkaydet65
Per Article I, Section VI of the Constitution, congressional immunity does not apply in this matter, viz.:

Article I, Section VI
[1] The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall, in all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House they shall not be questioned in any other place.

=====

Congress was not in session when Bela Pelosi violated the Logan Act, nor was she travelling to or from a session. Furthermore, violation of the Logan Act is itself a felony, which is specifically exempted for immunity from arrest. Therefore, immunity does not attach for two separate reasons.

That said, gutless George wouldn't even think about having DoJ arrest her, more's the pity.

27 posted on 04/06/2007 3:39:30 PM PDT by SAJ (debunking myths about markets and prices on FR since 2001)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Copy of the email I sent my Senators:

The Logan Act makes it a felony and provides for a prison sentence of up to three years for any American, “without authority of the United States,” to communicate with a foreign government in an effort to influence that government’s behavior on any “disputes or controversies with the United States.

It is apparent to myslef and others that Ms. Pelosi violated the Logan Act and I would encourage you to pursue this problem regarding Pelosi. Her trip and the attitude of the party that she represents has put our brave young men and women fighting for what little is left of this republic of America in harms way.

I write this knowing nothing will be done because the left never admits their sin and too consumed by power to humbly back away and the Republicans do not have the backbone to stand against the erosion of America caused by the left.

I wish this country would all of you out of office.


28 posted on 04/06/2007 3:39:40 PM PDT by Kimmers (Coram Deo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Don’t forget ex-president Jimmah Cartah who negotiated with Kim Il Sung in North Korea. That was also a violation of the Logan Act.


29 posted on 04/06/2007 3:40:01 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator
Re: Just days ago three Republican traitors went over and did the same thing

They bolstered and supported the President's policy. Speaker Pelosi attempted to conduct her own policy. Therein lies the difference.

30 posted on 04/06/2007 3:40:27 PM PDT by Uncle Peter (i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Alberta's Child

Yer such a dream crusher. :) Your point makes sense. I knew it was too good to be true.


31 posted on 04/06/2007 3:40:57 PM PDT by DogBarkTree (The United States failure to act against Iran will be seen as weakness throughout the Muslim world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Why not, she has violated just about everything else.


32 posted on 04/06/2007 3:42:58 PM PDT by freekitty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wolfstar

Not in case of a felony.


33 posted on 04/06/2007 3:44:45 PM PDT by furquhart (Gingrich for President)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: xkaydet65
You might decide to change your mind after reading some of the Constitution:

Article I. - The Legislative Branch
Section 6 - Compensation

(The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.) (The preceding words in parentheses were modified by the 27th Amendment.) They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest

during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same

; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.

Then again maybe you would not. Nobody else pays any attention to it these days.

34 posted on 04/06/2007 3:45:48 PM PDT by An Old Man (Socialism is a tool designed to "socialize" (i.e., confiscate, not create) wealth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Wolfstar

>Clinton did nothing about Carter’s meddling in North Korea, and nothing will be done to Pelosi now.<

Surprise me, W!


35 posted on 04/06/2007 3:47:48 PM PDT by Paperdoll ( on the cutting edge.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter
Now, if only the GOP and others could PROSECUTE her.

She is an outrageous embarrassment.

36 posted on 04/06/2007 3:48:19 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RightWhale
Probably, but apparently law doesn’t mean much anymore.

But, but, but, Nancy promised us the most honest and ethical Congress, in the history of the United States.

By that standard: Nancy should call for a special prosecutor and an investigation into herself.

37 posted on 04/06/2007 3:48:41 PM PDT by AFreeBird (This space for rent. Inquire within)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator
He would not have a congress left if he used this law.

Funny thing about punishment; you whack one perp hard and the rest fall in line.

38 posted on 04/06/2007 3:50:28 PM PDT by randog (What the...?!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

I still don’t like any of them going over there. If Republicans can go, Dems can too. So are you saying that when (God forbid) a Democratic President is in power no Republican can travel overseas to areas that he does not like them to go? I don’t know if we want to have some that can go and others that can’t. They should ALL be banded.


39 posted on 04/06/2007 3:50:36 PM PDT by napscoordinator (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter
Rep. Roger Griswold of Connecticut explained that the object was, as recorded in the Annals of Congress, "to punish a crime which goes to the destruction of the executive power of the government.

Wow, lock the whole left side of the Congress................................and John McCain

40 posted on 04/06/2007 3:51:03 PM PDT by Popman ("What I was doing wasn't living, it was dying. I really think God had better plans for me.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AFreeBird

The origin of the name ‘Syria’ is possibly ‘song’. Pelosi probably went there to sing in their National choir.


41 posted on 04/06/2007 3:52:40 PM PDT by RightWhale (3 May '07 3:14 PM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Paperdoll
Surprise me, W!

Optimism must be your middle name

BTW, I wouldn't hold my breath

42 posted on 04/06/2007 3:53:14 PM PDT by Popman ("What I was doing wasn't living, it was dying. I really think God had better plans for me.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: napscoordinator
He would not have a congress left if he used this law

Works for me!

43 posted on 04/06/2007 3:57:01 PM PDT by LaineyDee (Don't mess with Texas wimmen!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Kimmers

Congress can communicate with other governments so it wasn’t without authority. The Logan act is for private citizens. hundreds and hundreds of congressmen have visited other countries as have hundreds of Governors including President Bush43 as governor of Texas.


44 posted on 04/06/2007 3:57:28 PM PDT by gondramB (It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: thiscouldbemoreconfusing
“George Bush is the president he will never allow the Justice Department go after a fellow politician.”

That’s the sad truth. He appears to have this self righteous martyr complex yet he allows them to crucify him on a daily basis.

45 posted on 04/06/2007 3:58:37 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Diogenesis

Another useful idiot


46 posted on 04/06/2007 3:59:25 PM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: RightWhale
I have no doubt that Nancy went there to sing. To sing democrat sweet nothings in Assad's ear about what great things will be accomplished once the democrats regain the throne White House.
47 posted on 04/06/2007 3:59:59 PM PDT by AFreeBird (This space for rent. Inquire within)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: gondramB
And my bubble of hope is burst....Oh well at least I let my lack of representation know how I feel about their leadership skills.
48 posted on 04/06/2007 4:00:59 PM PDT by Kimmers (Coram Deo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Uncle Peter

Talk about a dead end theory...like anything other than praise will greet San Fran Nan upon her return.


49 posted on 04/06/2007 4:01:24 PM PDT by ErnBatavia (...forward this to your 10 very best friends....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RightWhale

We’re almost at the point where we should do anything we damn well please. There is NO ONE in that bunch of riff-raff that has the b@lls to do anything, they’re worthless, we are on our own from here on out.


50 posted on 04/06/2007 4:02:22 PM PDT by brushcop (Men of B-Co 2/69 3ID, God bless and protect you on yet another Iraq deployment.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-5051-84 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson