Written by Nick Bernabe at theantimedia.org
Washington, D.C. — Congress has really outdone itself this time. On Monday, neoconservative Republicans in the Senate were apparently so eager to go to war with Iran that they broke a federal law known as the Logan Act in the process. The Logan Act has been around since 1799 and has remained mostly unchanged, created to keep rogue members of Congress from undermining foreign relations.
How did Senate Republicans violate the Logan Act? Well they did that by being war mongers. But more specifically, when 47 members of Congress signed onto a letter that was sent to Iranian officials in an attempt to undermine the peace deal with Iran, they clearly violated the act — and also all committed felonies. According toCornell University, the act reads:
“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, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of 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.”
And the precedent has already been clearly set. In the case United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp. (1936), Justice Sutherland wrote in the majority opinion:
“The President alone has the power to speak or listen as a representative of the nation. He makes treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate; but he alone negotiates. Into the field of negotiation the Senate cannot intrude, and Congress itself is powerless to invade it.”
The Republicans, who so often talk of the Constitution almost as highly as they talk of their support for Israel, seem to have trampled over the document multiple times in as many weeks. You see, when they invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to speak to congress, they were also in violation of the Logan Act then too. John Boehner is mostly at fault for the Netanyahu fiasco, though, so he’s the only member of the House that should prosecuted for that.
However, 47 members of the US Senate — all Republicans — have clearly violated the Logan Act, and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Three years in prison for 47 members of our war mongering Congress? I would support that. The real question is: will enough Americans stand up and carry out the laws that are written plain as day in the Constitution, or will we simply sit back and expect the government to punish itself?
President Obama, who himself has shown little to no respect for the Constitution, seems to have no interest in prosecuting the war mongering 47, so that’s up to us to carry out. A petition to charge the Senators has already racked up over 40,000 signatures overnight (UPDATE: the petition has now surpassed 100,000 signatures, which means the White House will have to respond to it).
However, Citizen’s arrest seems to be a more effective plan of action than petitioning. These 47 men committed felonies and should be charged just as any one of us regular folks would be when we commit a crime. Who should we arrest first? John McCain or Lindsey Graham?
Where can I sign the petition?
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/file-charges-against-47-us-senators-violation-logan-act-attempting-undermine-nuclear-agreement/NKQnpJS9
You can sign it there, make sure you confirm the e-mail that the site sends you so that your signature counts!
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/file-charges-against-47-us-senators-violation-logan-act-attempting-undermine-nuclear-agreement/NKQnpJS9
These Senators did the RIGHT thing, which is all too often the ILLEGAL thing. However, I encourage ALL SENATORS TO SIGN THAT LETTER. How can Obama try to Prosecute when he had VIOLATED, SHIT, PISSED, AND STAMPED all over MY CONSTITUTION, AND MY RIGHTS!!! Ha, IMPEACH THAT MOTHA FUCKA!!! ( In my Samuel L. Jackson voice)
another petition, the more the better 🙂
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/gang_of_47
Seems like Obama is breaking the same law!
You’re right. He has been undermining the constitution since day one. Regularly pisses on our laws, his wife admits his home country is Kenya (has admitted it in several of her public speeches) and any other number of infractions. Know why he is still there? Because he has the connections and money to stay. That is it.
“The President alone has the power to speak or listen as a representative of the nation. He makes treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate; but he alone negotiates. Into the field of negotiation the Senate cannot intrude, and Congress itself is powerless to invade it.”
How do you figure that Bob? These 47 REPUBLICAN traitors should be arrested and charged for felonious sedition against the United States of America. Your comment is both dumb and uninformed. Not hard to tell who you vote for!
Hey Genius, Did you even read the short article lol, the president is the only one that cannot be charged under the Logan Act.
How? He can’t. By definition.
What the hell is this guy talking about? Somehow you got out of a story concerning congressing undermining the president, that the president is breaking said law. lol
Bob, don’t post, and you won’t embarrass yourself.
Wow, Republicans sure love their war. I swear that if the world is ever drowned in nuclear flames, they will be most likely to blame.
Your problem is thinking that there are different teams within our government. This is all being orchestrated for the election.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5u1skEoqLs
you may or may not have seen this video. please give it some time. they nearly choke when he hammers it home.
War is extremely profitable. No matter your petty political label, in a capitalism, the power goes where the money is. Unfortunately there is a lot of cash to be made on the blood of our brothers and sisters, and the blood of other regions citizens.
Definitely McCain first
If i did this, they wouldnt hesitate to charge me. Laws apply to the big fish too..
there was NO violation of the Logan Act as there was no negotiation whatsoever.
It was a letter. One I’d stand by. This President has gone way too far with his executive orders. Bush Jr. Did it before him as well. What’s the point of congress if a “dictator” can order up what he wants without Congress’ approval.
I said it before and I’ll say it again, Shenannigans!
What dont you understand about this? They attempted to affect the outcome of the negotiations.
“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, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of 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.”
No negotiations?? You are so full of shit and a dimwit!! What do you think we have been doing for the past year? Playing checkers with the leaders of Iraq and our negotiating team?? Go crawl back under your rock and sleep it off….
Lol? He went too far by trying to make peaceful negotiations? So you “stand by” undermining efforts at peace? I guess you’d rather by more weapons with our tax dollars from the defense contractors so we can start another war instead of using diplomatic options.
Peace for who? Any “deal” with Iran is going to be bad for Israel and for us. Iran can not be trusted as their only intention is to have these weapons so they can puff their chests like North Korea and threaten anyone they want and have the fire power to back it up… As we are decreasing our weapons and military they are all increasing theirs… Our way of life will be gone if Iran is allowed to have nuclear power…
Ita the same as all this nonsense nonservatives do against the president daily, shenanigans and a all waste of the entire country taxpayers money and time by both parties.
Bitch bitch bitch. You dumbass liberals the terrorist loving president you all elected has been making a mockery of our laws and constitution for the better part of 7 years. Allowing border jumping ILLEGALS AND THEIR 15 KIDS to come over and get paid for doing it
Before you refer to people as border jumping illegals why don’t you look into the reason for them leaving their homes in the first place. It goes deeper than the drug cartels killing people by the dozens. Why would they feel the need to resort to criminal activity? The people should not be coming here illegally but they are not the ones to blame for the condition they are trying to run away from. By the way I’m not an Obama loving individual as you might think.
And representing the hillbilly constituency…….
Fox News agrees with the ‘dumbass liberals,” so does that change your mind at all?
Yes, this is how I read it, too, BUT it’s more – this is an International negotiation under the U.N. according to International Law with several other countries involved in the negotiations. These 47 have interfered with them, too. 🙁
Grab both ears and pull.I don’t know what’s more ridiculous, the idea that this was a violation of the Logan Act, or your genius (lmao) proposition of using citizen’s arrest on a bunch of sitting senators.
Moron.
Wait, but why are we on about them breaking the law when Obama broke the law so many times? Why take this seriously when no one took what illegal acts he did seriously? That makes no sense
The second you geniuses get an arrest warrant for the republicans, don’t forget to include your Aunt Nancy to the pack of traitors. And while you are busy rounding up “criminals”, don’t forget Harry the Nevada land speculator.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/03/10/gop-2007-attacks-pelosi-interfering-bushs-syria-policy-v-todays-similar-dem-attacks-iran/
Why not both at the same time as each other?
As of right now this petition has over 190,000 signatures in ONE day – that speaks volumes because I don’t think that many people even turned out to vote for the current Senators in office!
I have a hard time taking this article seriously, considering the Logan Act and the Constitution have nothing to do with each other…
When reading one of these articles the first thing I look for is spelling and grammar. Why? If someone who is posting about ‘truth’ and ‘greatness’ and ‘the evilness of the opposing part’ or whatever the heck it may be, I want to hear a professionals’ opinion. One who is qualified. How can someone who isn’t able to spell and use proper basic punctuation and grammar rules speak on something worth listening to? Don’t agree with me? Think I’m being harsh and nit-picky? Ask any 9th grade English teacher. If you submit a source that has spelling and grammar as bad as THIS article does, they will reject it and you will receive a zero on the assignment.
Next item is the call to hold these ‘warmongering’ congressmen back to the Constitution to which they hold so dear. I get that, and agree with it. But let’s look at a bit of history, shall we? Constitution: 1787. Logan Act: 1799. I mean, yeah. There isn’t a huge difference between the two days. But even if it became a law the day after the Constitution was signed, the Constitution was signed without it, therefore making it an addition that was not there in the original. We call these Laws, Acts and Amendments.
Don’t get me wrong, I think things need to change, but looking at this for just a second, and combining that with a little bit of the use of the brain, shows anyone that this guy is an idiot, and nothing he says can be taken at face value.
To whom it may concern,
Thank you for wasting ten minutes of my day with your stupidity.
Sincerely,
A Guy
Actually the fact that you took time out your day is your fault.
WOW ! Slings and arrows abound ! But wait, let us return to yesteryear when then senator Kerry went unbidden to Nicaragua to Treat with their government in clear violation of the Logan Act. I don’t recall any hue and cry that he should be tried for treason. The voices I hear raised here would be well advised to read a little history before stacking wood around the stake !
First thing that pops to me is Obama is trying to get rid of the republican party he can’t control or manipulate. How many executive orders has he put in how many levels of ignorance does hr have fo display before the public is as outraged over that moved his shir. We need to simply shut all forms of government down send all those members to the war famished and other nations we are indebted to to satisfy that debt and rebuild from scratch with a constant reminder for all unpaid volunteers that begin the next form of minimal national organized government of what the public will do if government gets out of line. Our second amendment exists to ensure free men can keep cover meant in check so we don’t turn into England. Look at us now we adopted all their bad shot and left their medical plans and good traits what the fuck are we doing???? We need a revolution but people are to lazy to educate themselves so their inner freedom burns with life and we can revive our national idealism
I would take just throwing ALL who have violated it out of office!
Nothing good will come out of these attitudes. They reflects the deep dissention within the US as well as with nations.
Damn I just signed the petition and it has over 200,000 signatures on it hopefully something gets done soon, Keep us posted as much as possible.
so it seem yall found me in 2011 then lost me… hm hm
Do you actually think your liberal heroes don’t violate
the law every time they can? Hillary? Obama? Politicians
are the same. You. Probably complain about the Koch
brothers but think Soros and Buffet are great don’t you?
You’re dumb. End of story. Thanks for playing….
Better yet give them all community service in Iraq so they can learn a little about war, one whos been though it dont wish it upon any other man
I stand behind these 47 Americans. Someone HSS to stand up to the scum in the Whitehouse.
Shame on you, John. You are speaking of the President of the United States. Shame on you.
Let’s all do the paradigm shuffle.
Fools
Thank you.
Man this one would be hard to fight in court, because technically they are the government and thusly grant authority unto themselves. Granted the 1936 case does seem to condemn there actions, but it also doesn’t speak of representation and therefore technically the Secretary of State would be in violation as well. I don’t know, I don’t see this going anywhere, especially since a new election is on the horizon.
When the author says ” The White House must respond” just what does that mean? And can we the people prosecute? I’d like to know what it’s going to take to get action on this.
The problem is that the Logan Act bans an act influencing negotiations “ without authority of the United States”, but doesn’t say how that authority is obtained. Perhaps by being elected to the Senate?
I understand a judge made a ruling about this in the early 1900s, but that is not the law, and these circumstances are different.
Also, Obama is making the claim that he can, WITHOUT the consent of the Senate, make and “Executive Agreement”. This is Orwellian fiction. It’s as if I shot a policeman, and my defence was “there is no law against shooting pigs”. A policeman is a person, and an “Executive Agreement” is a treaty. Calling something something else does not change what that thing is. And Obama cannot make a treaty – call it what he likes – without the “advice and consent” of the Senate.
As he seems to be negotiating against the wishes of the Senate, it would seem to be their legal obligation to take whatever steps are necessary to stop him. Beyond that, as there is a clear legal principle that would prevent a court from interfering in the actions of another branch of government in most situations – and, as 47 Senators is not “Any citizen” but a good portion of “the Senate”, I don’t imagine the Logan Act applies here.
And finally, to repeat what I’ve been hearing, it seems John Kerry, on multiple instances earlier in his life, had done things far closer to the action that originally inspired the Logan Act back in the 1700s than these Senators have done….which is perhaps technically irrelevant, except as an indicator of some pretty high level hypocrisy.
http://AustinWashington.com
Don’t you just love all these people in here commenting to take up for the 47 traitors to our country… hum, that would make these idiots traitors too.
It is EXTREMELY important to sign this.
IN formally violating Article II of the Constitution, these Traitors attempted a deliberate and bloodless Coup d’Etat.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Impeach-And-Prosecute-John-Boehner-And-The-47-Traitors/1041768162503919?ref=hl
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/impeach-and-prosecute-1.fb48?source=c.fb&r_by=12614228
The Logan Act is patently unconstitutional. Regardless of how dumb the Republican senators who signed that letter are, I would vigorously oppose any attempt to prosecute them under the Logan Act. To paraphrase Voltaire, I may not agree with what they said, but I would defend to the death their right to say it.
There is no such thing as a constitution people as our world gets more crowded and our enemies het more power. The old constitution will have to be written over to fit the new times. You may not like it but face it. It will happen and those of you who say I’m crazy take it from a Army vet such as myself things will change for better or worse
What sticks out in the Logan’s Act is ” without authority of the United States” seems to me that as a US Senator, they do have the authority…
Lets Not Forget Pelosi in traveling to and engaging in talks with Syria….