Did Pelosi commit a FELONY???
By Smith2028
@Smith2028 (797)
United States
April 6, 2007 11:55am CST
Did Rep. Pelosi commit a felony on her little trip to Syria?
The Logan Act says yes. This act makes communicating with a foreign government in an effort to influence that governments behaviour on any controversies with the United States a FELONY with a prison sentence of 3 years.
The Constitution gives the Executive Branch the power of negotiation with Foreign Countries. Therefore, Rep. Pelosi is in violation of her oath of office to Support the Constitution and of the Logan Act.
Thoughts?
4 people like this
6 responses
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
6 Apr 07
Go after her and you better be prepared to go after many others. Everything from Hollywood stars to current politicians have tried to influence other countries with their brilliance and personalities to get what the US wants. How many times have we seen former presidents making contacts? Representatives often travel to other countries in acts of diplomacy. I think there is a fine line between diplomacy and crossing over to The Logan Act. As always, I'm sure it will be an issue to cause fighting between the two parties. We can't be sure what's said and there may not have been "negotiations" going on at all as much as diplomacy and interaction to make "friends".
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
7 Apr 07
Hi Hockeygal4ever,
You make some fine points.
However, the true distinction is that our elected representatives from either House are not empowered to engage in international diplomacy, unless specifically authorized to do so! That is the role of the Executive Branch, and it's consignee The State Department.
As for your concern that pursuing criminal charges under "The Logan Act" will perpetuate further in-fighting between the two camps in Congress, it is a valid concern. However, it won't be a valid concern for long if the usurpers or potential usurpers are behind bars, or visiting their leadership behind bars.
Would I say the same if a Republican Speaker of the House usurped a Democrat President's international authority? Absolutely I would.
Mrs. Pelosi has acted as little more than a malicious busy-body by overstepping her authority in Syria. And yes, I would be equally outraged at any such insideous busy-body!
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7 Apr 07
Whether or not she violated the Logan Act is up for the debate, however, we know for sure that she blatantly violated the US Constitution and her Oath of Office.
If it is true that Syria is actively involved in the war in Iraq, she could also have commited treason.
2 people like this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
7 Apr 07
No, She is a liberal democrat and can do what ever she wants and will not be held accountable, unless the opposition uses visious personal attacks based on lies(in their eyes but the truth to the reasonable person). The media will not followup on this and she will be hailed as a hero because she caused an embarssment to the country.
She doesn't even realize that she was used and the Arab leaders are laughing at her as she gave them a great PR victory. She has caused great harm to Isreal and willmake it difficult for other US dipolamats to talk freely with world leaders. She did this for a few political points with the extream left - Move on Dot Org. I hope that people remember this in 2008 and hold the democratic congress men accountable. She does not understand that leadership getting others to follow you and not rushing off on your own dong your own thing.
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
7 Apr 07
Good morning Smith2028 and All,
I was involved in a 'news' discussion here on MyLot with Paratek and others, the other day about this very topic. Sadly MyLot doesn't link the 'news' discussions in our 'discussions' pages. So, if anyone cares to see the argument in it's entirety, it is viewable under the 'news' category by a search of "Pelosi in Syria".
What I will share here is that since Mrs. Pelosi's intent was to discuss foreign initiatives, not just foreign affairs, by means of relaying a foreign communicae from Israel, meaning that she intended to influence the measures or conduct of Syria and Israel, and perhaps the U.S., that she is indeed in violation of the "Logan Act of 1799".
Moreover, I believe that Mrs. Pelosi, by way of misrepresenting Israel's conditional willingness to negotiate peace with Syria, is in violation of US Statute ss.954 "False Statements influencing a foreign government". Which if found guilty, imposes a fine and/or imprisonment of not more than ten years!!!
If we, as Americans, wish to avoid such future international embarrasment, then I implore us all to inundate our President, Attorney General, and our elected representatives (especially those who sit on the Ethics Committees of both Houses) with letters that insist that criminal action be taken. We need to insist that charges be brought against Mrs. Pelosi and any others who willfully violate laws that imperil our international standing.
Such action will force our representatives to think twice before they attempt to usurp the President's power to represent the United States in matters of state.
1 person likes this
@Smith2028 (797)
• United States
8 Apr 07
I'm assuming you are referencing, US Code Title 18, Chapter 45 Section 954, in which case you are right on. I, unfortunately, don't see anyone going after her for this.
1 person likes this
@moonshadow68 (723)
• United States
7 Apr 07
Speaker Pelosi and her party, which I am sadly a member of, have apparently forgotten the U.S. constitution and American law. Though they are willing to extend the protections of our constitution to prisoners of war/terrorists at Guatanimo, they have completely forgotten the concept that like him or hate him, President Bush is the Commander in Chief.
It sickens me that they can't seem to recall that anything that embarrasses the president embarrasses the country. Most foreign nationals do not differentiate between American citizens and American government, so we ought to support our government and, if the President is wrong, fix it when he's gone.
Unfortunately, I think this is what happens when you have soemone with no concept of foreign affairs as the third most powerful person in the country. And, I think she is trying to make a power grab for more.
1 person likes this
@revdauphinee (5703)
• United States
6 Apr 07
I dont know and quite honestly i dont care and anyone who goes against this terrible Bush administration is ok in my books I simply cant wait to see him and his cronies out of office !
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
7 Apr 07
So, what you are saying is, you don't care what the US Constitution says, you hate Prs. Bush so anything anyone does against him is fine with you?
How utterly pathetic of you.
1 person likes this