Panther
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My Heart beats True for the Red White & Blue...
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Karnal wrote on Jul 13 th, 2017 at 4:05pm: Panther wrote on Jul 13 th, 2017 at 3:22pm: Karnal wrote on Jul 13 th, 2017 at 1:40pm: Here is the law Donald Trump Junior, Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort are alleged to have broke: Quote:A federal law, Section 30121 of Title 52, makes it a crime for any foreigner to contribute or donate money or some “other thing of value” in connection with an American election, or for anyone to solicit a foreigner to do so. Very good, very good......but no cigar on this one.....well, not yet anyway.
Section 30121 of Title 52's 'original intent' was to eliminate the possibility of foreign money/contributions/currency being used to corrupt the individuals foreign governments contribute to in that they would then owe 'access' to foreign entities in the day to day workings of the US government.
Bottom line the original intent was regarding "Financial" investment into American Elections creating Foreign pathways into the US Government itself.
The “other thing of value” was meant to define other things of "monetary value", not merely a physical or intellectual item of value.
Now, lately many lawyers allude to this phrase as "possibly" being used to define "information" as an item of value.
This definition has never been used in any criminal proceeding where Section 30121 of Title 52 was cited.
There is no "legal precedent" for using "information" as a basis of criminal activity in regards to Foreign intrusions into American Electoral undertakings via Section 30121 of Title 52.
So, there may be some court somewhere willing to break 'new ground' to use Section 30121 of Title 52 in this fashion, someday, but to use it as an argument for high level criminal activity is far from likely......that is, but not until, a "bona fide" precedent can be cited to allow legal debate on the issue before the court.
All true. Mr Trump's team won't be charged with this, Panther - that's nothing. Meuller is gathering evidence on the Trump team's collusion with a foreign power to undermine US interests. He's getting it too, as we're seeing. But I'm curious. Regardless of the law, what do you think of a candidate for US president being deeply involved with a foreign power who stole information to help him win? What do you think of 5 of his senior staffers (and son) lying about this involvement on their security clearances? We know you believe this is not a good look because you said Donald Trump Junior didn't want news of his meeting getting out. You obviously think there's something dodgy about all this, so why do you condone it? Even Donald Junior said it was the wrong thing to do. What is it about Mr Trump that you want to keep excusing him? What qualities do you value? It can't be his anti-corruption swamp-draining pitch, or his making America (rather than Russia) great line. You know Mr Trump is shifty and prioritizes Russia's interests. What is it, Panther? In past US elections, since the 18th century, both local & national, virtually any candidate if offered illegally acquired information that would give him or her a distinct advantage with the electorate, would seriously consider accepting it, & if accepted would use it...
It has always been an acceptable part of American Politics.
Whether it be from a good friend from the local civic club, or a foreign VIP, it makes no difference.
Winning is everything in American Politics.
All is fair in love & war......Elections = War.....
Oh, & importantly to this discussion, in American law it is not illegal to use the information, no matter how it was obtained, as long as you....the eventual user of said information....had nothing to do with any illegal actions to directly, & illegally, gather, steal, or borrow said information. 
If Congress or the American people don't like it, & I would think they don't, then instead of gumming it to death....talk is cheap....they should join with the lawmakers to make new laws outlawing these specific activities.
The only problem they may encounter is that most of all this is probably protected by the First Amendment.....Freedom of Speech....Freedom of the Press...& with it all the freedom of association.
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