A report Friday, detailing how former Secretary of State John Kerry has spoken with foreign leaders about salvaging the Iran nuclear deal, has stirred talk about a violation of the Logan Act.
Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, tweeted in response to the Boston Globe report: “OMG! Logan Act violations!! Send in the G Men…”
OMG! Logan Act violations!! Send in the G Men… https://t.co/FA1dydJGQb
— Devin Nunes (@DevinNunes) May 4, 2018
Meanwhile, Tom Fitton, who heads the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, said “Kerry making quiet play to save Iran deal with foreign leaders: report. I’m waiting for the Left to scream treason and for Sally Yates to invoke the Logan Act and demand a criminal investigation.”
[Also read: Alan Dershowitz: John Kerry would be violating the Logan Act if it was enforced]
He was referring to former acting Attorney General Sally Yates, who was concerned that former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn had violated the Logan Act during the presidential transition period after he discussed policy issues with a Russian envoy.
The Logan Act is a more than 200-year-old law under which no one has ever been prosecuted, that prohibits private citizens from acting on behalf of the U.S. in disputes with foreign governments.
President Trump found himself beset by Logan Act talk after the Republican Convention during 2016 campaign, when Trump sarcastically invited Russia to produce the 30,000-plus emails that Hillary Clinton deleted rather than turn over to investigators.
The Iran deal, struck in 2015, was struck during the Obama administration and put Iran’s nuclear program on ice in exchange for relief from crippling sanctions.
Trump, who has until May 12 to decide whether to continue on with the agreement, seek changes, or abandon it, has indicated he intends to pull out of the Iran deal, provided it is not altered, despite the protestations of European allies.
