It is illegal for private citizens to negotiate with foreign governments. That job is assigned to the president through the Constitution.
Former Secretary of State John Kerry has reportedly undermined President Donald Trump in the Middle East.
The Trump administration hasn’t had any contact with the Palestinian Authority since announcing its plan to move the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But that didn’t stop Kerry from sending the Palestinians a message.
The Logan Act (1 Stat. 613, 18 U.S.C. § 953, enacted January 30, 1799) is a United States federal law that criminalizes negotiation by unauthorized persons with foreign governments having a dispute with the United States. The intent behind the Act is to prevent unauthorized negotiations from undermining the government’s position. The Act was passed following George Logan’s unauthorized negotiations with France in 1798, and was signed into law
