Just in case you missed it, a group of Republican Congressmen have corresponded with the leadership of Iran in the midst of delicate treaty negotiations involving not only the USA, but also several allies of the United States involved with us in those negotiations.
It’s a clear and blatant violation of the Logan Act, but more than that, it is an attempt to interfere with and frustrate the ability of the Department of State and the President of the United States from negotiating with a foreign power on a matter of war and peace. That sure sounds like treason to me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Act
The Logan Act (1 Stat. 613, 30 January 1799, currently codified at 18 U.S.C. § 953) is a United States federal law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. It was passed in 1799 and last amended in 1994. Violation of the Logan Act is a felony, punishable under federal law with imprisonment of up to three years.
The Act was intended to prohibit United States citizens without authority from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments.
This is not the first time an attempt has been made to undermine American diplomacy for domestic partisan political advantage by Republican politicians. Although there is no direct proof, it has long been suspected that Ronald Reagan lobbied Iranian officials to delay the release of American hostages until after his inauguration. Subsequent dealings of the Reagan administration during the Arms-for-Hostages deal commonly known as “Iran-Contra” only confirm these suspicions.
During the 1968 presidential election, Richard Nixon campaign officials, through Anna Chennault, advised Saigon to refuse participation in peace talks, promising a better deal once elected. Defense Secretary Clark Clifford thought the move illegal, and President Lyndon B. Johnson called it treasonous, but did not want to reveal that the NSA was intercepting communications in Vietnam.
The Logan Act was enacted by the 5th Congress of the United States, and signed into law by President John Adams on January 30, 1799
Text of the Logan Act
§ 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments.
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.
This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply himself, or his agent, to any foreign government, or the agents thereof, for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
1 Stat. 613, January 30, 1799, codified at 18 U.S.C. § 953 (2004).
Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason.
- Sir John Harington (1561-1612)
Besides his patriotic epigrams, Sir John is also known for the invention of the flush toilet.