Regarding the Logan Act

The following, by law professor Steve Vladeck, is worth a read:  The Iran Letter and the Logan Act.

FILED UNDER: US Politics,
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. Mu says:

    While there might be no fear of successful prosecution under that act, I also have no doubt that a willing DA could get an indictment. Timed right, lets say a month before next year’s primaries, that could make a huge mess out of some election campaigns.

  2. @Mu: I have profound doubts.

    I am not even sure that Act would apply to members of Congress.

  3. JohnMcC says:

    Seems ‘lawfareblog’ website is down. Any alternate sources?

  4. PD Shaw says:

    From the makers of the Alien & Sedition Acts, another unconstitutional law. If you look at it closely, you can see that it was written in part to get at Vice-President Jefferson, who was believed to be secretly supporting diplomatic missions to France, and in the worst light, bring the French Revolution to America if he became President.

  5. JohnMcC says:

    @JohnMcC: Back up. Thanx.

  6. Jim says:

    While the Logan Act is probably unconstitutional and prosecution unlikely, the fact that the instigators of the Iran letter are spending their time defending themselves against accusations of treason (which they haven’t committed), shows that they have lost the political and public relations battle. Stupid Senators.

  7. James P says:

    Why was Ted Kennedy not prosecuted under the Logan Act for writing a letter to YUri Andropov?

    Why were Dems not prosecuted in the 80s for meeting with Commandante Daniel Ortega in Managua?

    In 2007 Pelosi met with Assad over the objections of the Bush Administration. Were you folks calling for her to be prosecuted for violating the Logan Act?

    Members of Congress swear an oath to oppose all enemies foreign and DOMESTIC. BHO is a domestic enemy so they are only fulfilling their oaths of office when they undermine him.

  8. Matt says:

    If you consider BHO a domestic enemy then all I can say is this country could use a lot more domestic enemies. This country would be far better off.

    Oh wait he has a D next to his name so no matter what he does he’s the ENEMY!!! You’re freaking nuts and unpatriotic. Clearly you have no loyalty to this country so I advise you moving on.

  9. Thomas Meloth says:

    Please. He’s a troll. I don’t often post. But it’s not worth responding to this guy. He’s not real, he’s just trying to get a rise out of people.