Let me finish with the language of the Logan Act, which Congress passed and the president signed in the early days of our Republic.
%22Any%20citizen%20of%20the%20United%20States%2C%20wherever%20he%20may%20be%2C%20who%2C%20without%20authority%20of%20the%20United%20States%2C%20directly%20or%20indirectly%20commences%20or%20carries%20on%20any%20correspondence%20or%20intercourse%20with%20any%20foreign%20government%20or%20officer%20or%20agent%20thereof%2C%20with%20intent%20to%20influence%20the%20measures%20or%20conduct%20of%20any%20foreign%20government%20or%20of%20any%20officer%20or%20agent%20thereof%2C%20relation%20to%20any%20disputes%20or%20controversies%20with%20the%20United%20States%2C%20or%20to%20defeat%20the%20measures%20of%20the%20United%20States%2C%20shall%20be%20fined%20under%20this%20title%20or%20imprisoned%20not%20more%20than%20three%20years%2C%20or%20both.%22′
I wonder if the Senators who rushed to sign that letter to the Iranian leaders had read this document, which is known as the Logan Act. It basically says that only the government of the United States is allowed under the law to negotiate with foreign governments.
Again, I wonder if these forty-seven Senators gave thought to what they’re doing here.
Then, again, they do know what they’re doing: they are trying to undermine the work of an American president by first of all disrespecting him. Even if they don’t get charged and imprisoned for it, what they’ve done here is craven.
Chris Matthews