FEC chair responds to Trump saying he'd accept foreign intel on opponent: 'It is illegal'

The Hill ^ | 06/13/19 | Rebecca Klar

[yesthatjallen]

Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub said Thursday it is illegal to accept foreign assistance during elections after President Trump publicly suggested he would accept foreign intelligence on opponents.

"I would not have thought that I needed to say this," Weintraub tweeted Thursday with her statement.

"Let me make something 100 percent clear to the American public and anyone running for public office: It is illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election," Weintraub said.

In an interview with ABC News Wednesday, Trump suggested he would accept dirt on an opponent offered by a foreign country.

Doubling down on why that's unconstitutional, Weintraub said "this is not a novel concept," adding that "our Founding Fathers sounded the alarm about 'foreign Interference, Intrigue, and Influence.' "

"They knew that when foreign governments seek to influence American politics, it is always to advance their own interests, not America's," she said.

Any political campaign that does receive such an offer should report it to the FBI, she added.

Trump said in the ABC interview he would "maybe go to the FBI" if he received information about an opponent from a foreign government.

Trump’s comments faced strong pushback from Democrats and some Republicans.

The FEC is an independent regulatory agency whose purpose is to enforce campaign finance law. Weintraub was appointed by former President George W. Bush and has served as commissioner since 2002.

[yesthatjallen]

Someone telling you something is different from believing it and acting on it.

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[yesthatjallen]

Ellen Weintraub

[cdpap]

So have they arrested Hillary yet

[Savage Beast]

He said he would listen to it. He did not say that he would accept it.

[DoughtyOne]

This is a massive stretch, when it comes to the “Anything of value” definition.

If a foreign national knows that Hillary Broke a serious law, it’s illegal for the president of the United States to know about it, then research it and prove it true?

This could only be used to better the standing of the foreign state, and couldn’t help our own.

This woman has served too long.

Bush again...

[LambSlave]

Oh, so accepting intel on compromising candidate behavior from a British spy would be illegal then, you’re saying?

[US_MilitaryRules]

The dumb dem/communists are falling right into Trump/Barr’s trap!

[Nifster]

What about Hillary???

[CaptainMorgantown]

Anything of value from a foreign source?

Like maybe the Steele Dossier?

[DoughtyOne]

The logic of this is so twisted. It could only help a foreign state?

So if the president of the United States is told by a foreign national that there is a nuclear plot focused on the U. S., it could only help that foreign state, and not the U. S.?

This person is a mental midget.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

So what about paying foreign agents for fake “dossiers” on non-Democrats?

[DoughtyOne]

“Oh, well no, I didn’t mean that. Oh my gosh no...”

Can’t believe she has to tell someone? That angle makes what she is saying highly suspect. She’s trying to set the premise anyone not agreeing is simply a dolt.

F U _itch!

[MAGAthon]

Wikipedia: Ellen L. Weintraub
Weintraub subsequently returned to private practice as counsel at Perkins Coie LLP, where she was a member of its Political Law Group...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_L._Weintraub

don’t expect FakeNewsMSM to mention this connection.

[Reagan80]

Trump is setting them up.

Since the Obama/Hillary/Deep State cabal actually paid to have the fake Steele dossier created (British spy) and then accepted that information on Trump; we now have this document as an unequivocal official pronouncement on the illegality from no less than the FEC.

So now, how will the FEC avoid prosecuting those who accepted and used the fake Steele dossier to obtain FISA warrants?

[Its All Over Except ...]

So if an ambassador or foreign head sitting across from the president (in front of the press) leans over, the president has no idea what he or she is about to do, and that person whispers dirt on another candidate in Trump’s ear, that is illegal?

Huh?

[jmaroneps37]

And the trap is slammed shut!!! This is the final pronouncement Barr and Trump needed to put the wood to Hillary Clinton. Well played Mister President.

[Brilliant]

So does this mean they will be bringing charges against Hillary?

[FirstFlaBn]

So, during next year’s campaign, a ferriner goes to a Trump outdoor event and yells details of Biden’s kid’s graft into a bullhorn. Trump hears it. Dems add to their impeachment shopping list?

[thoughtomator]

This woman’s lawful term ended 12 years ago.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/fec-commissioners-terms-expired-long-ago-trump-congress-won-t-n870071