President Obama Violated the Law with His Ransom Payment to Iran

National Review ^ | 08/06/16 | Andrew C. McCarthy Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/438744/iran-ransom-payment-

[Enlightened1]

The president hoped to camouflage what he knew to be against the law in his dealings with Iran.

 

Did it ever occur to President Obama to ask why he couldn’t just cut a check to the Iranian regime? Outrage broke out this week over the revelation that Obama arranged to ship the mullahs piles of cash, worth $400 million and converted into foreign denominations, reportedly in an unmarked cargo plane. The hotly debated question was whether the payment, which the administration attributes to a 37-year-old arms deal, was actually a ransom paid for the release of American hostages Tehran had abducted.

 

The reason American policy has always prohibited paying ransoms to terrorists and other abductors is that it only encourages them to take more hostages. And, as night follows day, Iran has abducted more Americans since Obama paid the cash. No matter how energetically the president tries to lawyer the ransom issue, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck . . .

 

More worth examining is why the transaction took the bizarre form that it did. To cut to the chase, I believe it was to camouflage — unsuccessfully — the commission of felony law violations.

 

[dware]

It’s illegal and the President has to go through congress. We don’t elect dictators.

Ready to go to the White House and arrest the POS? No? Well then, so?

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Oh, yeah, that is the ticket. He is really concerned about breaking the law...NOT!!!

[Forward the Light Brigade]

They will do Zip. Wait til he cancells the election and rules another term (with Hillary as his VP). A single order and a Drone Strike will take out Trump. The Radical GOP will be outlawed—as a hate Group. Most Media would support such a move.

[dware]

One of many laws he has violated.

And yet, here we sit, thumbs in our noses, completely and entirely unwilling to do a damned thing, for fear of what we will lose if we do so. That's your "new revolution", right there.

[1Old Pro]

I think it’s against the law to use a cabinet agency to persecute those with opposing political beliefs, i.e Lois Lerner’s IRS.

Obama is corrupt, Hillary is crooked, the media covers it up.

[al baby]

He could diddle a bunch of lil boys at Chucky cheese pizza on HD cc tv and it would go no where

[yoe]

(Violating Oath of Office is a Federal Crime)The recent years since 9/11 have proven our elected representatives have little to no interest in presenting or passing legislation that passes constitutional muster. A myriad of laws such as Patriot Act, GM takeover, NDAA, Bankster bailouts, Operating government without formal budget, mandated Healthcare and coming legislative assaults on second amendment all point to an out of control nearly, if not actually, tyranical government our founders never intended but clearly warned us about.

..... In other threads I have touched on the subject of the oath of office and find its treated as just words to be said but no one holds those taking the oath responsible so I thought it a good topic for discussion especially since violating the oath is codified as a violation of federal law and executive order.

The oath taken by both houses of Congress reads,

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God

it goes without saying Hillary Clinton has no use for the United States Constitution UNLESS it for some reason benefits her. Trump has no reason not to obey the oath of office he answers to no one except himself, G-d and his family.

[Chaguito]

What we have witnessed for 7 1/2 years is a wannabe dictator showing the government establishment that they are powerless to stop him, Constitution or no.

A social contract (quaint notion) is only workable when all parties recognize the value of honoring the contract. When one party is not a gentleman, as Obama is not, the contract is worthless.

Obama has the guns, and his ilk have the major cultural entities under control.

[I want the USA back]

And CNN will be doing an investigative piece tonight on whether Obama should be impeached. < / s >

[showme_the_Glory]

Yep, most of the world doesn’t care. Sad.

[IC Ken]

Laws only count and mean anything when Republicans break them

[Kahuna]

Jug Ears needs a tour in Leavenworth.

[Diogenesis]

[Romans Nine]

Laws don’t matter.

We the people are allowing this to happen because we are collectively too scared to do anything about it.

The DOJ is not for Justice anymore.

The country is lost. Trump cannot save it, no one person can yet we lack the fortitude to stand together so here we shall fail together.

[Enlightened1]

I strongly disagree.

We are winning because it’s all coming out in the light.

What was once hidden has now been decloaked thanks to Trump.

[Conservative Gato]

Until we have gone completely communist, I will not give up and pray for divine intervention.

It’s not like this country deserves to go through tyranny because so many are willing to destroy our God-given rights but we all have to do what we can to try to keep that from happening.

Trump is a start but it’s up to all of us to continue to fight and maybe, if it is God’s Will, we will be saved and our enemies within, may justice be served. May God continue to expose their failed ideology and give Trump, as well as all of us, the continued strength to take them on and expose their corrupt ways.

CGato

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Chaguito:" What we have witnessed for 7 1/2 years is a wannabe dictator showing the government establishment that they are powerless to stop him, Constitution or no."

CORRECTION:
What we have witnessed are witnessing for 7 1/2 years is a wannabe dictator "black entitlement "showing the government establishment that they are powerless to stop him, Constitution or no."

[piytar]

Laws don’t apply to Democrats. Hillary and Obama are proof of that.

Anyone who is surprised has not been paying attention. We’re a banana republic now.

Hope Trump can fix it. But it’s a long hard slog, and the corrupt will do ANYTHING to keep their gravy train running...

/NO SARC

[piytar]

+infinity

[piytar]

The actual criminal statute is at 18 USC 1918.

But with the corrupt and/or scared people running the FBI and DOJ, for example Comey who just does not want to be Arkansided, it doesn't matter.

Maybe that will change under Trump. MAYBE.

It DEFINTELY won't under Hillary.