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.
Former Russian president warns Europe’s ‘peaceful sleep is over’ after Romania drone hit
Kevin Kiley’s two-front fight: Battling California redistricting while defending his own seat
Dead voter allegation fuels concerns about voting safeguards as blue state official turns herself in
WATCH: America’s first ‘formerly undocumented’ congressman delivers ultimatum at besieged ICE facility
‘Your Time Has Passed’: Democrats Furious After Jill and Hunter Biden Burst Back Into Spotlight
White House Launches Aliens.Gov After Series of Cryptic Messages: ‘They Walk Among Us’
Amtrak fire near Penn Station triggers major NYC commuter disruptions, NJ Transit and LIRR cancellations
‘Ghosts’ on Florida highways: Roadside sting snares 249 illegal immigrants, officers warn many more hiding
Blistering report exposes how national K-12 group’s DEI agenda is trickling down to local schools
Democrats ‘selling their soul’ to embrace Platner are in for rude awakening with Maine voters: GOP lawmaker
Can congressional Democrats co-opt MAHA from the MAGA-verse?
Democrats lash out at Bidens as former first lady relitigates the past: ‘They suck’
With tough midterm elections looming, Trump 2028 GOP revenge list grows
12-year-old boy dies after raft capsizes during school trip in Pennsylvania
BREAKING VIDEO: Blue Origin Rocket Suffers Massive Explosion After Catastrophic Failure at Cape Canaveral
“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.
Former Russian president warns Europe’s ‘peaceful sleep is over’ after Romania drone hit
Kevin Kiley’s two-front fight: Battling California redistricting while defending his own seat
Dead voter allegation fuels concerns about voting safeguards as blue state official turns herself in
WATCH: America’s first ‘formerly undocumented’ congressman delivers ultimatum at besieged ICE facility
‘Your Time Has Passed’: Democrats Furious After Jill and Hunter Biden Burst Back Into Spotlight
White House Launches Aliens.Gov After Series of Cryptic Messages: ‘They Walk Among Us’
Amtrak fire near Penn Station triggers major NYC commuter disruptions, NJ Transit and LIRR cancellations
‘Ghosts’ on Florida highways: Roadside sting snares 249 illegal immigrants, officers warn many more hiding
Blistering report exposes how national K-12 group’s DEI agenda is trickling down to local schools
Democrats ‘selling their soul’ to embrace Platner are in for rude awakening with Maine voters: GOP lawmaker
Can congressional Democrats co-opt MAHA from the MAGA-verse?
Democrats lash out at Bidens as former first lady relitigates the past: ‘They suck’
With tough midterm elections looming, Trump 2028 GOP revenge list grows
12-year-old boy dies after raft capsizes during school trip in Pennsylvania
BREAKING VIDEO: Blue Origin Rocket Suffers Massive Explosion After Catastrophic Failure at Cape Canaveral
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.
