White House Sources: John Kerry’s Stealth Lobbying Backfired, Helped Kill The Iran Deal

The DC ^ | 5-8-2018 | Benny Johnson

[servo1969]

News of former Secretary of State John Kerry's alleged collusion with the Iranian government played a role in President Donald Trump's decision to scuttle the Iran deal, two White House sources with direct knowledge of the president's thinking tell The Daily Caller.

Trump announced he was pulling out of the deal Tuesday, just a few days after news broke that Kerry had been parlaying with Iran in an attempt to keep the deal alive.

A source inside the White House with knowledge of the decision process tells TheDC that the Iran deal was "done" when Trump found out about Kerry's lobbying behind the scenes. "Trump was headed that way but Kerry just took away any of the teeth of the detractors," the source said on background. "[Kerry's] bulls**t ultimately killed the deal."

Another source inside the West Wing confirms to TheDC that there was a frantic last-minute lobbying effort to keep the deal in place and that the timing of the Kerry news was "ironic." The source specifically blames Kerry's meddling in the process as a key decision point in the calculus for pulling out of the deal.

"It was by no means the reason [Trump] decided to pull out, but it certainly influenced the final decision," the source continued. "I mean, read the tweets."

President Trump attacked Kerry's actions on Twitter Monday, saying, "The United States does not need John Kerry's possibly illegal Shadow Diplomacy on the very badly negotiated Iran Deal. He was the one that created this MESS in the first place!"

Trump followed up, saying, "John Kerry can't get over the fact that he had his chance and blew it! Stay away from negotiations John, you are hurting your country!"

Both sources confirm that Kerry's actions hurt the lobbying effort by some in the West Wing to keep the deal in place.

The decision marks another crippling blow to Barack Obama's legacy by the Trump administration. The Iran deal was the cornerstone of Obama's foreign policy.

It was revealed late last week that Team Obama was working furiously to keep their legacy accomplishment afloat. Kerry was revealed to be actively working with his Iranian counterparts to salvage the Iran nuclear deal and undermine the current administration in a report published by The Boston Globe Friday.

According to The Globe, Kerry met with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif multiple times over the last few months. He also reportedly met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, French President Emmanuel Macron and multiple members of Congress.

A Kerry spokesperson told Fox News, "Secretary Kerry stays in touch with his former counterparts around the world," and that he was working to make sure the tenants of the Iran deal "remain effective."

The report comes as the Trump administration is under intense scrutiny for allegations that the president's campaign colluded with Russia to swing the 2016 election. No evidence has yet been presented to support that claim.

Some legal scholars say Kerry's actions were a clear violation of the Logan Act.

The Logan Act states:

"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."

The Boston Herald has called for a full investigation into Kerry's actions.

Kerry defended his stance by posting a statement on Twitter Tuesday. He complained that Trump's decision "weakens our security" and "isolates us from our European allies and puts Israel at greater risk."

[Alas Babylon!]

It’s more than that.

The democrats, the media, and the Left hate Pres. Trump, and do not see him as an equal.

To Kerry, Trump is a buffoon who has no business in the White House. And this opinion is shared by most democrats, many GOPe Republicans, and Deep Statists.

So why would they tarnish themselves with pleading to or negotiating with Donald Trump? In their minds, he’s a bigmouthed idiot.

But of course he isn’t, AND that is why they lose to him.

[ryderann]

I think the reason Kerry went to see the Iranians was to make sure the payments to him, Obama, and Hillary wouldn’t stop.

[JonPreston]

Kerry has been a traitor to this country for 50 years.

Kerry is cut from the same cloth as the SDS, the Weatherman and the radicals like Tom Hayden, Bill Ayers, Bernardine Dohrn, Jeff Jones, and Celia Sojourn.

[RegulatorCountry]

A Kerry spokesperson told Fox News, "Secretary Kerry stays in touch with his former counterparts around the world," and that he was working to make sure the tenants of the Iran deal "remain effective."

This author needs to work on his grasp of the English language, as does his editor.

[Cowboy Bob]

LOL! If it wasn't for Kerry, the deal would still be in effect. Suck on that, Liberals!

(I don't think it's true...but I'd love to see the Liberals go after Kerry!)

[Pravious]

Yes.

As Rush pointed out yesterday, Trump has now eliminated or de-fanged all of Obama’s accomplishments except allowing boys to use girls’ bathrooms.

I say... keep going! Unseal every record Obama had sealed and let’s find out if he was even a legitimate President to begin with. Start down THAT road and I bet the Democrats will finally feel real terror and end their “Russia! Russia! Russia!” “Stormy, Stormy, Stormy!” tantrum in 24 hours.

[BobL]

“The Logan Act states: “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...”

Sounds like Kerry had ‘correspondence, but I doubt ‘intercourse’, with those leaders.

Wait! they were all men. Maybe he did violate both clauses.

[Maskot]

“He complained that Trump’s decision “weakens our security” and “isolates us from our European allies and puts Israel at greater risk.”

Not your call to make, horseface. Like you give a shit about Israel. This deal guaranteed Israel would be harmed and you know it! It was baked in.

Remember, we won! Trump is your president too and you just can’t stand it! MAGA

Winning!!!!!

[Fhios]

Whether true or not that’s the narrative I would push. It’s embarrassing to the would be shadow diplomats and perhaps discourages foreign dignitaries to engage with them.

Kerry didn’t do this on his own. He’s on the strings of a puppet master and enablers. I’m sure Schumer, Pelosi and some senior committee members were briefed in full and gave tacit approval.

Perhaps they thought they would be embarrassing PDJT. If they did, they haven’t been paying attention.

[madison10]

You and I know that, but the MSM doesn’t know that, or they appear to not know that.

[Sir_Humphrey]

I’m not even sure why it would be unconstitutional although that also has never been tested.

Because he is a private citizen talking to a government with whom we have normal diplomatic relations. He can say what ever the hell he wants to say...misguided as it is.

[Cowgirl of Justice]

And even better was when Iran seemed accepting that the Iran deal was off the table and THEN they came back and THREATENED the United States!

Did traitor Kerry tell them to push back, that we would fold under a threat??!!

[Thibodeaux]

The “allies” were foolish for believing an international agreement not ratified by the Senate was binding.

There are other allies more important than the Europeans. They are Israel and the Arabs and who like America know Iran is an existential threat. The Europeans would welcome an Iranian nuclear attack on America.

Saudi Aramco is more important than Siemens

[BeauBo]

Just undermining the credibility of Kerry, and the rest of the Obama alumni.

Deter foreigners from investing much in colluding with them - lower the market price for them as traitors who will sell out US interests. Make them radioactive as lobbyists.

Not only did they not come through with the desired result, but there is a downside risk of using them.

[Beach333]

“Normal diplomatic relations” = Iran?

[Labyrinthos]

The Iranian deal was never signed by the Iranians.

[Fhios]

I don’t think the Logan act is unconstitutional. The ninth may disagree.

If the President had to look to the courts to maintain their Presidential powers — well that’s wrong too. At some point Trump would have to put his foot down and tell the court, “not your jurisdiction”.

[MuttTheHoople]

The Logan act has never been enforced and most likely is unconstitutional

yeah, but having Kerry go through his wife's fortune in legal fees would be great!

[Calvin Locke]

... because of security concerns.

What? Have an legitimate justification?

Didn't care threaten to pull passports of any American athlete that wanted to go to the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics?

(Carter in a tiz over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.)