Twice impeached ex-president Donald Trump just announced that he has his own personal “envoy ambassador” conducting foreign policy and it’s none other than… former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell.
In a statement issued earlier today, Trump said he sent Grenell to the Kosovo-Serbia border this week to meet with leaders and engage in peace talks. Or something. It’s not totally clear. But it sure sounds like some shadow government shit.
The former president has an envoy ambassador and is conducting foreign policy pic.twitter.com/m60Wkl9gU1
— David Freedlander (@freedlander) November 11, 2021
What is clear, however, is the Logan Act, which prohibits unauthorized American citizens from attempting to intervene or negotiate with foreign governments that are having disputes or controversies with the United States.
After meeting with government officials, Grenell held an impromptu press conference at the Merdare border crossing between Serbia and Kosovo, where he told reporters he came to the region as a “private citizen” because he was “frustrated” with how the Biden administration was handling the Serbia-Kosovo economic normalization agreement.
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“Many of the Trump administration and many Americans are frustrated because we saw a historic agreement, an economic one, which we agreed on for the people of Kosovo and the people of Serbia is not respected,” he said.
But Grenell claiming to be there as a “private citizen” doesn’t totally square with a tweet the President of Albania, Ilir Meta, shared after their meeting, where he said it was a “pleasure” to sit down with Grenell in his office and talk about “further strengthening of the relation and collaboration between Albania and the United States.”
It's always a pleasure to have @RichardGrenell in Albania and in my office. His commitment in support of the further strengthening of the relation and collaboration between Albania and the United States is greatly appreciated. ????? pic.twitter.com/MbHU0UhmJ7
— Ilir Meta (@ilirmetazyrtar) November 9, 2021
Here’s what people are saying on Twitter about the whole thing…
Boy oh boy really rooting for the Logan Act right now
— Beaufighter (@Beaufighter_MkI) November 11, 2021
Perhaps they should arrest Grenell when he attempts to return to America.
— Dems Deliver Infrastructure! (@schwanderer) November 11, 2021
Trump and Grenell appear to be violating the Logan Act. Also, Trump is running his own shadow government. https://t.co/nydPmuaQ1o
— Bob Cesca (@bobcesca_go) November 11, 2021
Yeah, I think there’s a law against that. FBI should meet Grenell at the airport when he returns.
— Tom Beshear (@BeshearTom) November 11, 2021
@RichardGrenell needs to be questioned by our actual government. Needs to be know what he is doing and why. Also, make it known who is paying for his activities.
— John (Jigen) Griffin-Atil (@JohnEdwin1964) November 11, 2021
Trump’s latest statement says Ric Grenell is serving as his "Envoy Ambassador” and is on the Kosovo Serbia border to work on the agreement from his administration.
This should be one of the exhibits for his involuntary commitment and establishment of a legal guardianship.
— Tom Joseph (@TomJChicago) November 11, 2021
Excuse me, Mr Grenell, DOJ is on line one…
— Kerri Leigh Alexander (@KerriLeighAlex1) November 11, 2021
Grenell was a pretend DNI too
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) November 11, 2021
Of all Mr. Trump’s personnel,
the worst may just be Ric Grenell.
Ric obeys when he’s spoken at
and forgot there’s the Logan Act –
Now Ric may get thrown in a cell pic.twitter.com/e1uxkVg99p— poems and politics (@poems_politics) November 11, 2021
This is criminal. Trump & Grenell must be held accountable & prosecuted before further harm is done to our country. https://t.co/q1R8Uh61x5
— Richard Signorelli (@richsignorelli) November 11, 2021
Grenell has called accusations that he violated the Logan Act “nonsense” and has accused critics of being “bullies.”
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore
Sqwoah
Nothing will come of this. This isn’t news, it’s just cheering for the demise of somebody you don’t like because of their political views.
ZzBomb
Uh no, this is clear violation of the law. Nothing to do about how anyone feels about politics. We don’t have 2 gov’ts negotiating deals, only the one.
ta2t2o
I suspect Grinell still has a clearance which comes with travel and disclosure restrictions. Would be interesting to see what of that he violated as well.
barryaksarben
WTF you can not be serious or you are the dumbest troll to come here yet. He broke a federal law going there on behalf of that insane ex president. This IS the biggest problem for gays – internalized homophobia who will bow down to the patricachy to finally feel like they belong to it. NO you and we do not. We are better than that bug ricky is a messed up pos. He cries after an orgasm is the rumor cuz he hates being gay so much. Uhealthy sick mother Fr. HE has set gay right back a decade all by himself being trumps cum rag. I am older and still angry at the terrible shit the republicans have ALWAYS treated us and their party must fail and disappear
Jon in Canada
Two words dear: LOGAN ACT
GayConservMan
barryaksarben, please, take your prescribed meds and get off the recreational drugs.
Den
@gayconsevman: I am curious how you would react if Obama had sent an “ambassador” to negotiate policy months after Trump had been elected. Both men are private citizens, neither is in a position To negotiate on behalf of the executive branch, or send envoys to do so unless SPECIFICALLY ENJOINED BY A SITTING EXECUTIVE!
Both Trump and Grenell are likely breaking the law, so Barry’s post, though angry is understandable. Your comment is either based on delusion or ignorance or both.
I would not be surprised if you were one of those fools who think the election was “stolen”, when the reality is Trump lost the popular vote twice and the second time thankfully the distribution of votes enabled the people’s will to be done.
Prax07
Arrest him the second he tries to re-enter the US.
barryaksarben
We know the secret service are white supremists and most likely the FBI too or this pos WOULD be arrested the second his foot touched American soil. But it wont happen as the FBI is a racist, sexist homophobic org. There has been over 50 years of affirmative action and the CIA, FBI and secret service are still 90% straight white men or damned close and why havent they followed the affirmative action ? No one will believe there are no qualified poc or women or gay men to hire. Just entitled white guys keeping it white and straight and male. I hope they prove me wrong and arrest him but they wont. Watch. These orgs secretly and not so secretly support trumps madness and it is madness. Do they really think they can just ignore the more than half the country when they destroy our country? do they think we will let them just go back to stealling our tax money to give to the rich. We are done if they do NOT defend what this country was promising from its beginning. ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL
Fahd
This is more doing Putin´s bidding trying to destabalize the west by undermining relations between the United States and the EU, which has its own ideas about the Serbia/Kosovo conflict. Working contrary to the European agenda is a Putin, and by extension, Trump, focus.
Grennell was a national embarrassment as Trump´s ambassador to Germany. Even though I think of Grennell as a reactionary wacko, who happens to be gay, not a community representative, he´s also an embarrassment to gay people.
Without any Trump pardon in prospect, now would be the time to prosecute Grennell. His efforts to undermine the 2020 election and his conduct described here show that he has the makings of a traitor.
CNY1983
Until they put their foot down and arrest these traitors they will further split us apart.
IanHunter
I wish they would get off their asses and squash Trump. I hate everything I hear about the cheeto at the bottom of the bag.
dhmonarch89
Trump supporters are concerned about Serbia and Kosovo???? I seriously doubt Trump supporters know where/what Serbia and Kosovo are!
barryaksarben
Please they think JFK jr is comeing back from the dead to run with trump in 2024. INSANE IDIOTS
fur_hunter
Well, I see this website blocked my comment here that I posted 2 hours ago. So. Let me try again and maybe reword it a bit: I want to see the Orange MORON and ALL his f ing cronies hauled off to prison. If Merrick Garland gives them just a slap on the wrist, I will be so F ING ANGRY!!!!!!
Let’s see if that will fly here. Yeah. Talk about Cancel Culture.
dhmonarch89
did you edit the post after- every time I do that- it ends up not being posted.
Mack
LOL, he sends the gay guy to the “anti-gay” countries to do work for him that is illegal. File charges all around.
DuMaurier
I will suggest Mr. Grenell worry when any poster can tell me the last time anyone was convicted and served time for violating the Logan Act.
Kangol2
According to the Congressional Research Service’s report, “The Logan Act: An Overview of a Sometimes Forgotten 18th Century Law” (cf. Google):
Since the Logan Act’s enactment in 1799, there apparently have been only two prosecutions under the statute, neither of which led to a conviction. In 1803, a grand jury indicted a Kentucky farmer named Francis Flournoy for writing an article in the Frankfort Guardian of Freedom arguing for a separate Western United States allied to France. The case went no further than the indictment. Then, in 1853, one Jonas P. Levy was “arrested and held to bail” under the Logan Act for having written a letter to the President of Mexico. This case, as well, was ultimately dropped. It appears that no indictment under the Logan Act has been brought in the 165 years since.
Unfortunately for the US and current administration and fortunately for traitor Richard Grenell, he probably will not be prosecuted for conducting shadow foreign policy on behalf of Don the Con (and Putin?).
Jon in Canada
Sadly, given Garland and the DOJ’s complete lack of concern about violent insurrectionists and other incredibly serious crimes the MAGA/GQP have committed, I’m not confident anything will come of this. Admit it America, you’re toast.
TopCop
WTF? There is no Trump administration. Trump LOST the election and is not in office. Former presidents cannot dictate policy, even if they disagree with the current administration.
mz.sam
Richard Grenell, a devoted Donald Trump ass-kissing lackey is one of January 6 White House official (including Matt Schlap and Sidney Powell) who was instrumental in ‘Stop The Steal’ social media hoax-information and the Nevada fake audit recount that was reported by MSNBC cable news this month.