Trump Says He's Willing To Violate U.S. Election Law

(This caricature of Donald Trump is by DonkeyHotey.)

§30121. Contributions and donations by foreign nationals

(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 30104(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.

(b) "Foreign national" defined

As used in this section, the term "foreign national" means-

(1) a foreign principal, as such term is defined by section 611(b) of title 22, except that the term "foreign national" shall not include any individual who is a citizen of the United States; or

(2) an individual who is not a citizen of the United States or a national of the United States (as defined in section 1101(a)(22) of title 8) and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as defined by section 1101(a)(20) of title 8.

The paragraphs above contain the federal election law regarding participation in U.S. elections by foreign nationals (or individuals representing foreign nations).

Donald Trump violated this law when he not only accepted help from the Russians, but actually asked for that help. He claims he did not "collude" with Russia to affect the 2016 election, but he obviously did.

But even more important is the fact that he doesn't think he did anything wrong. And ignoring federal law, he said he would be willing to do it again -- without notifying the FBI that foreign help had been offered or accepted.

Here's what he said in an interview with ABC newsman George Stephanopoulos. Stephanopoulos asked Trump if he would accept help from a foreign government in the future. Trump said:

"I think you might want to listen, there isn't anything wrong with listening. If somebody called from a country, Norway, [and said] ‘we have information on your opponent' -- oh, I think I'd want to hear it."

"It's not an interference, they have information -- I think I'd take it. If I thought there was something wrong, I'd go maybe to the FBI -- if I thought there was something wrong. But when somebody comes up with oppo research, right, they come up with oppo research, 'oh let's call the FBI.' The FBI doesn't have enough agents to take care of it. When you go and talk, honestly, to congressman, they all do it, they always have, and that's the way it is. It's called oppo research."

"I'll tell you what, I've seen a lot of things over my life. I don't think in my whole life I've ever called the FBI. In my whole life. You don't call the FBI. You throw somebody out of your office, you do whatever you do. Oh, give me a break – life doesn't work that way."

When reminded that FBI Director Wray said any contact from a foreign country offering help should be reported to the FBI, Trump responded:

"The FBI director is wrong, because frankly it doesn't happen like that in life."

This tangerine fool has no respect for the rule of law. He thinks he's above the law, and should be able to do whatever he wants. He needs to be impeached -- NOW!