President Trump said Thursday that former Secretary of State John Kerry should be prosecuted under the Logan Act for speaking with Iranian officials and criticizing Trump’s policies in Iran.
Trump told reporters at the White House that he would not rule out the possibility of military action in Iran amid escalating tensions before laying into Kerry for his involvement.
“What I’d like to see with Iran, I’d like to see them call me,” Trump said. “John Kerry speaks to them a lot, and John Kerry tells them not to call. That’s a violation of the Logan Act, and frankly he should be prosecuted on that.”
Trump added that his “people don’t want to do anything,” and that “only the Democrats do that kind of stuff.”
The Logan Act bans private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments without permission from the U.S. Violating the obscure law is a felony, but only two people have ever been charged with doing so and nobody has ever been convicted.
Conservatives Accuse Netflix of ‘Subtly Mocking Charlie Kirk’s Assassination,’ Call for Mass Cancellation
Patriots Announcers in Disbelief as QB Throws Away Season Opener on Final Play: ‘What Was He Thinking?’
Judge questions possible attorney conflict in DC pipe bomber case
Prosecutor Joseph diGenova resigns from DOJ role investigating Trump-Russia probes
Fatwas, holy wars and socialism: Inside the Islamic conference where El-Sayed drew a hero’s welcome
ICE arrests Peruvian national accused of illegally voting in 2024 election as DHS cites similar cases
TPUSA Official Explains How ‘Ghouls’ Celebrating Anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s Death Are Actually Helping His Cause
Deep Dive: One Year On, ‘A Million Charlie Kirks’ Have Not Yet Emerged, But Disunity and Insanity Have
James Talarico needles Ken Paxton amid GOP midterm convention
Family of 9/11 hero to retrace his steps in final Tunnel to Towers stop
Illegal convicted of assaulting high school girls thought he was free — then DHS dropped the hammer
How to make more Charlie Kirks: Inside TPUSA’s gap-year alternative to the ‘college scam’
Watch: Spontaneous Tribute to Charlie Kirk Erupts as Trump Honors Erika at RNC Midterm Convention
In Hindsight, Trump’s Decision to Save TikTok Was a Colossal Mistake
National Cryptologic Museum unveils historic Osama bin Laden exhibit
“Everything President Trump said today is simply wrong, end of story,” a spokesman for Kerry told CNN. “He’s wrong about the facts, wrong about the law, and sadly he’s been wrong about how to use diplomacy to keep America safe.”
Kerry, who served as secretary of State under former President Obama, helped negotiate the Iran nuclear deal, which offered sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran curbing its nuclear program.
Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal a year ago despite objections from allies that remained in it. The administration has steadily reimposed sanctions on Iran in the time since.
Kerry has been a fierce critic of Trump’s presidency and his policy on Iran in particular.
Kerry said last year that he has met with the Iranian foreign minister “three or four” times since leaving office for discussions on the nuclear deal and other issues. The remarks drew rebukes from Trump and other members of his administration.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have ratcheted up in recent weeks amid a flurry of measures from the Trump administration.
Conservatives Accuse Netflix of ‘Subtly Mocking Charlie Kirk’s Assassination,’ Call for Mass Cancellation
Patriots Announcers in Disbelief as QB Throws Away Season Opener on Final Play: ‘What Was He Thinking?’
Judge questions possible attorney conflict in DC pipe bomber case
Prosecutor Joseph diGenova resigns from DOJ role investigating Trump-Russia probes
Fatwas, holy wars and socialism: Inside the Islamic conference where El-Sayed drew a hero’s welcome
ICE arrests Peruvian national accused of illegally voting in 2024 election as DHS cites similar cases
TPUSA Official Explains How ‘Ghouls’ Celebrating Anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s Death Are Actually Helping His Cause
Deep Dive: One Year On, ‘A Million Charlie Kirks’ Have Not Yet Emerged, But Disunity and Insanity Have
James Talarico needles Ken Paxton amid GOP midterm convention
Family of 9/11 hero to retrace his steps in final Tunnel to Towers stop
Illegal convicted of assaulting high school girls thought he was free — then DHS dropped the hammer
How to make more Charlie Kirks: Inside TPUSA’s gap-year alternative to the ‘college scam’
Watch: Spontaneous Tribute to Charlie Kirk Erupts as Trump Honors Erika at RNC Midterm Convention
In Hindsight, Trump’s Decision to Save TikTok Was a Colossal Mistake
National Cryptologic Museum unveils historic Osama bin Laden exhibit
Last month, the Trump administration labeled Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a “foreign terrorist organization.” Trump on Wednesday announced fresh sanctions on the Iranian metals sector in an effort to cut off a source of government revenue.
On Sunday, national security adviser John Bolton announced the deployment of a U.S. carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East. Officials have cited a “credible threat” from Iran, but have not elaborated on the cause.
Trump was asked about the carrier decision on Thursday and offered few specifics other than to say Iran had been “very threatening.”
“We have information that you don’t want to know about. They were very threatening, and we just want to have — we have to have great security for this country,” Trump said.
Asked about the risk of a military confrontation there, Trump said that’s always a possibility.
“I don’t want to say no, but hopefully that won’t happen,” he said.
Story cited here.
