John Kerry is clearly violating the Logan Act

nyPOST ^ | 5/7/2019 | post editorial board

[bitt]

Lucky for John Kerry that no one has ever been convicted (or even prosecuted since 1852) for violating the 18th-century Logan Act, which bars private diplomacy against US interests.

Because what the former secretary of state has been doing to pressure President Trump against withdrawing from the Iran deal sure looks like a textbook violation.

The Boston Globe reports that Kerry in recent weeks has engaged in “unusual shadow diplomacy” to “apply pressure on the Trump administration from the outside,” holding meetings and phone calls “below the radar” with Iranian and European leaders.

Kerry doesn’t deny the meetings, but claims he’s only been “urging Iran to remain in compliance” to ensure the disastrous deal negotiated on his watch “remains effective.”

We have our doubts: Just a few weeks ago, in fact, he reportedly was urging Palestinian Authority officials to “stay strong and play for time” in hopes Trump will be removed from office.

In neither instance was Kerry representing the US government. On the contrary, he seems to have been doing precisely what the Logan Act expressly forbids: acting “without authority” and communicating with foreign governments “to defeat the measures of the United States.”

This doesn’t mean Kerry should be prosecuted, no matter how despicable his behavior — because, again, the law is a dead letter.

[Bob Ireland]

***In neither instance was Kerry representing the US government. On the contrary, he seems to have been doing precisely what the Logan Act expressly forbids: acting “without authority” and communicating with foreign governments “to defeat the measures of the United States.”***

Remember this when considering why the China trade talks appear to be breaking down... they are being encouraged to play American politics - by someone.

Same scenario operating vis a vis North Korea. It is treason!

[Bob Ireland]

I don’t understand why State has not seized Kerry’s passport. !:-E