Posted by
Aaron G on Friday, October 17, 2008 6:31:31 PM
OK. I looked up the Logan act. It states the following.
- § 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments.
- 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.
- This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply himself, or his agent, to any foreign government, or the agents thereof, for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
1 Stat. 613, January 30, 1799, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 953 (2004).
I don't think he violated the Logan Act by campaigning for Odinga. This is however, one more instance of questionable judgement.
On the subject of violating the Logan Act, Obama could and probably should be investigated for attempting to directly obstruct negotiations between the Iraqi government and the Bush Administration for political gain. Legislators are not diplomats unless designated so by the State Department. This pipe dream of investigating him will never come true for the pure fact of the cowardice the current president has shown toward other self proclaimed diplomats ie Pelosi and company going to Syria. As mush as I like Mr. Bush, I think it's time for him come on home to Texas where he belongs.