Jared Kushner just flagrantly violating the Logan Act multiple times. Will anything come of it? Doubtful.

  • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    The Logan Act says nothing about contracts.

    It bans “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”.

    Trying to influence others is fundamentally protected by the First Amendment, even if (especially if!) your interests are not the same as those of the government.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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      7 months ago

      It bans “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”.

      What exactly do you think negotiating U.S.-Saudi diplomacy when he wasn’t tasked to by the government is doing?

      • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        He is trying to influence Saudi-US diplomatic relations, which we all have a First Amendment right to do.

        He isn’t “negotiating a contract”, because only agents of the US government can negotiate contracts with the US.

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldOP
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          7 months ago

          What you quoted literally says it’s banned. I mean “with intent to influence” is right there in the text you quoted. Did you even read it?

          • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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            7 months ago

            Yes, I quoted the Logan Act to point out that it’s directly at odds with the First Amendment. A law that bans “influencing” someone will quickly be ruled unconstitutional as soon as anyone tries to enforce it.

            There are many anachronistic laws that are still on the books but will be thrown out if anyone tries to enforce them today. For example, in some states homosexuality is technically banned, but those bans are unenforceable and people “flagrantly violate the law” every day.

            • kevindqc@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              Interesting that his law, signed into law by a founding father no less, is an anachronistic law, but the constitution is supposed to be rock solid and the law of the land. Looking at you, second amendment

              • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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                7 months ago

                Our interpretation of the First Amendment has undeniably changed a lot over the centuries. The Sedition Act, also in 1798, sent someone to jail for calling the President “not only a repulsive pedant, a gross hypocrite, and an unprincipled oppressor, but…in private life, one of the most egregious fools upon the continent.” Such a prosecution would be a non-starter today.

                It’s sad that the Second Amendment seems to be frozen in time, for now.

    • GreenKnight23@lemmy.worldBanned from community
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      7 months ago

      you’re misrepresenting the first amendment and you know it. why are you like this? is this who you want to be?

      pathetic.

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      International diplomacy without being an elected official or appointed by one is not protected speech. Using overly reductive language to make it sound like a campaign stop won’t change that.

      • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        The SCOTUS has made pretty clear that all speech is protected unless it falls into one of these categories:

        • Incitement
        • Obscenity
        • Defamation
        • Fraud
        • Illegal advertising
        • Fighting words
        • Threats
        • CSAM

        “International diplomacy” isn’t among the exceptions, and therefore it’s protected.