Posted on 04/19/2025 8:15:55 AM PDT by Libloather
Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s, D-Md., sudden trip to El Salvador to try to free deportee Kilmar Abrego Garcia is getting the attention of critics who believe the Maryland Democrat may have violated a 1799 law prohibiting unauthorized diplomacy.
The Logan Act – named for former Pennsylvania Sen. George Logan – stipulates a fine and/or imprisonment for Americans corresponding with foreign officials "with intent to influence the[ir] measures … in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States."
Logan met with French diplomat Charles de Talleyrand after Paris rebuffed President John Adams, and he attempted to entreat him – in part via a letter from Vice President Thomas Jefferson – to end the Franco-American hostilities of the so-called "Quasi War."
In that way, several prominent conservatives questioned whether Van Hollen’s actions similarly violated the law.
"Why hasn’t this U.S. senator been arrested for violation of the Logan Act? It’s illegal to conduct your own foreign policy," longtime Republican consultant Roger Stone tweeted.
WMAL host Vince Coglianese read the Logan Act statute aloud and asked his audience whether Van Hollen had done what the code outlined.
"Is Chris Van Hollen violating the Logan Act?" Coglianese said. "Because this is what they accused General [Michael] Flynn of doing … the incoming national security advisor … who was merely having conversations with foreign diplomats [after] people had chosen President Donald Trump."
Democrats previously seized on the Logan Act when Flynn contacted Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak prior to Trump being sworn in the first time, which ultimately led to an FBI probe and tanked his public-service career.
Notes from former FBI agent Peter Strzok read, "VP: Logan Act" and suggested then-Vice President Joe Biden floated using it against Flynn, while then-FBI director Jim Comey...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Won’t work. Tulsi did it in Syria when she was a democrat.
There are times when the idea’s good. Depends on who’s involved.
“No one is above the Law!”
PROSECUTE!
But, let’s get real.
NO ONE has ever been convicted under the Logan Act, enacted in 1799.
Two people have been indicted, but neither was convicted.
No reason to think this time is any different...
The "rules" mean nothing.
Besides, "It's not a crime when a Democrat does it."
That's the real rule. Should we change that? If so, how can we change that?
Van Hollen’s trip is a gift that will “keep on” giving, to the Republicans.
No “might” about it.
18 U.S. Code § 953:
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 one is above the Law!”
***********
Except Democrats. They are never held accountable.
That would require a spine which is non-existant in Congress.
Is a Senator without the authority of the United States? Isn’t it this just a kind of constituent service? I don’t like what Van Hollen did, but I don’t want to encourage an interpretation of the Logan Act that we won’t like when the shoe is on the other foot.
Hard to imagine an example of constituent service that requires dealing directly with a foreign government. Where you completely bypass normal diplomatic channels.
And democrats need to remember that nobody is above the law.
Even though they think they are.
So charge him with it and even if it goes nowhere, make him sweat it out.
And the rest of the dems.
If a republican did this, the democrats would call it *insurrection*. That sword cuts both ways.
As distasteful as this dem senator's behavior is too most of us, I am not sure it violates the Act.
Members of Congress exchanging with foreign governments is a relatively common practice and, arguably, the senator is not seeking to change U.S. policy.
He would argue he is in El Salvador in an attempt to correct a mistake admittedly made by the U.S. Indeed, he would likely label his behavior as a humanitarian effort and turn it into a political win.
It’s the seriousness of the charges!
C’mon, Man.
Each time his is placed under oath, he should be asked about the health of Garcia. Then he should be read a copy of all the federal laws he violated in court under oath. Then he should be asked the purposes of his trip, while under oath. Then finally he should be asked under oath if there “could” be reasonable grounds for a jury to investigate if he violated federal law.
He wanted to draw attention to himself with his grandstand play. I say give the guy enough rope to hang himself (politically and legally). If nothing else it should make for great anti-Van Hollen campaign ads at his next election bid.
Isn't there a codicil to the act: "This is to be used against Republicans only"?
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