The Worm is at it again! And this time he took it to a new level. Dennis Rodman’s recent visit
to North Korea even got Satan himself to comment: On his radio show from the inner circle of Hell, Rush Limbaugh remarked: “We’ve got the new secretary of state, Dennis Rodman, just
back from North Korea talking to Kim Jong Un, who just wants Obama to call him. Man, what a foreign policy team. Joe Biden, John Kerry and Dennis Rodman.”
https://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/rush-limbaugh-dennis-rodmans-the-new-secretary-of-sta te-88379.html#ixzz2McsdsHgI
Perhaps Limbaugh was misled into believing that Rodman was travelling as an emissary of the Obama administration because Obama and Rodman are of the same “persuasion” (Limbaugh Code). However, even the Devil can be wrong on occasion, Rodman wasn’t travelling on behalf of his brother the President. Rodman was in North Korea to attend a Harlem Globetrotters basketball game. The Whitehouse was circumspect about Rodman’s visit, while not making a big deal about it: https://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/9015460/white-house-chides-north-korea-dennis-rodman-visi t
Seriously though, did Rodman violate the Logan Act, talking jump shots and nukes with Kim Jong Un?
Enacted in 1799, The Logan Act prohibits unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. 18 U.S.C. § 953. The Act is strikingly broad and deals with any attempt by a US citizen to conduct unauthorized foreign relations:
§ 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments.
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. 1 Stat. 613, January 30, 1799, 18 U.S.C. § 953 (2004).
“Any correspondence or intercourse”! Uh oh! Some of us may recall when President Reagan suggested that Jesse Jackson may have violated the Logan Act when he traveled to Cuba back in 1984, returning from his trip with a few Cuban political prisoners seeking asylum.
Given the broad language, there is no question that the Logan Act could be used for petty or malevolent political purposes as well as preserving order in foreign affairs. Dennis Rodman can count himself in with the 47% and count his blessings that Limbaugh’s team did not steal this past election and take the Whitehouse. If Romney were in power, I have no doubt that his appointed Attorney General would have locked Rodman up as soon as he got off the plane.
#caveman law bLAWg. click bLAWg on top panel to read more of NYC’s top legal blog [bLAWg]
Call or Text Giordano Law today for a free consultation: (646) 217-0749.