Did Romney Break Campaign Laws During His Overseas Trip? Signs point to yes.

[NCDem60]

Is Romney ineligible to become the next President of the United States of America? It’s a very real possibility, especially since he threw a few fundraisers during his disastrous little overseas meet n’ greet a few weeks ago. These fundraisers were extremely private, with no journalists present (with a single exception, who did not have access to the donors), no filming or photography allowed, no diligence done, and no donor IDs checked. If money changed hands at these rich shin-digs (which is quite probable, being fundraisers and all), Romney could be in a lot of trouble.

But why? Let’s ask the Supreme Court and their 9-0 decision in Bluman v. Federal Election Commission:

(a) Prohibition

It shall be unlawful for —

(1) a foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make —

(A) a contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a Federal, State, or local election;


(B) a contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or

(C) an expenditure, independent expenditure, or disbursement for an electioneering communication (within the meaning of section 434(f)(3) of this title); or

(2) a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation described in subparagraph

(A) or (B) of paragraph (1) from a foreign national.

2 U.S.C. § 441e(a).[fn2] The statute continues to define “foreign national” to include all foreign citizens except those who have been admitted as lawful permanent residents. Id. § 441e(b).

Huh. Very interesting, Supreme Court, thank you.
Romney, already having to evade the demands of the American people to see his tax returns, will now have to prove that he hasn’t accepted foreign money to fund his campaign. Considering no records were apparently kept, that could prove difficult. If he has taken foreign money, then he is ineligible for the CoChief position, but very eligible for a cozy jail cell in some white-collar prison.
As Veterans Today points out:
If you go outside the US: If you stay inside the US, if your contributor is living in the US but not a citizen, any money you get can mean years in jail.

Romney went the whole way, personally campaigning outside the US, soliciting foreign citizens, and humiliating himself and his country with his ignorance and flagrant attempts to trade illegal cash for promises of illegal war. One could hardly break more laws if one wanted.

“Romney has raised millions in foreign cash at fundraising event across Israel and London, those that we know of so far. One table alone gave him a million in cash. None was from American citizens. Fewer than 10% of Romney’s contributors in Israel are estimated to be “dual citizens.” Others may have just flown the money in.”

[link:http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/08/14/romney-broke-the-law-by-raising-money-from-foreign-donors-should-he-be-disqualified/|

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. He had fundraiser with Barclays investors in England

[librechik]

2. too bad Romney is a republican, otherwise he would get indicted, shamed, and hounded

from office. Since it was a Repub that did it, nothing will happen. They are allowed to scoff at campaign laws.

[Justice wanted]

3. Thanks to Citizens United his fund raising is a gray area after all Corporations are people too AND

if a corporation has offices in the U.S. it didn't break the law per say BUT if a corporation doesn't have offices in the U.S. does it have the right influence our elections?

[jberryhill]

4. "will now have to prove that he hasn’t accepted foreign money"

Oh, is that the way our system works now?

[Jackpine Radical]

7. That's what I was wondering.

I imagine they were careful enough to cover their tracks.

[jberryhill]

9. My guess is there were two donation tracks

1. US strawman "donors" who could receive foreign money through various structured tax free transactions and then give it to the Romney campaign.

2. Super PAC reps who could have miraculously show up to coordinate corporate donations when Mitt & crew left the meeting.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Entirely likely.

The international banking class has a strong interest in a Romney ascendency.

[jberryhill]

12. Oh, and one other track...

"Enjoy the London Olympics with VIP tickets to all events, luxury accommodations and transportation, private air transportation, and a special evening with Mitt Romney and friends..."

"Enjoy a trip to the Holy Land with..."

[CanonRay]

5. Didn't he do a fundraiser in Israel with the casino mogul

I was wondering how he got away with this...when I contribute I have to certify I'm not a foreign national.

[Texas-Limerick]

6. But he's raising money with Anglo-

Saxons! Doesn't that make it ok?

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. While, as you say, the media wasn't present to check

the story was that, for the London fundraiser, they had to show their American passport to be allowed in:

Invitations to Romney's London fundraisers say that people buying tickets "must provide a copy of a U.S. passport." Romney campaign officials did not respond to emails requesting further information.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/25/oly-usa-politics-romney-idUSL2E8IP1Q420120725

[nanabugg]

11. Waiting for some Saudi to donate...if they haven't already. nt