PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP had again sank to a new low when he shocked America with an explosive statement in an interview with ABC News on Thursday, brazenly saying that if another country offered him dirt on his opponents in 2020, he thinks he would take it, and wouldn’t necessarily report it to to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
This would violate laws that require candidates to immediately report it to the FBI because this would constitute interference into our elections, pursuant to 52 U.S.C. Section 30121 (a)(2), which reads: “It shall be unlawful for a person to solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation… from a foreign national.”
After Trump’s brazen statement, Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chair Ellen L. Weintraub issued a full statement on Twitter Thursday afternoon which read:
”Let me make something 100% clear to the American public and anyone running for public office: It is illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election. This is not a novel concept. Electoral intervention from foreign governments has been considered unacceptable since the beginnings of our nation. Our Founding Fathers sounded the alarm about ‘foreign Interference, Intrigue, and Influence.’ They knew that when foreign governments seek to influence American politics, it is always to advance their own interests, not America’s. Anyone who solicits or accepts foreign assistance risks being on the wrong end of a federal investigation. Any political campaign that receives an offer of a prohibited donation from a foreign source should report that offer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.”
I will discuss this issue in depth next time but first, this should not come as a surprise anymore from Trump as this issue had been at the core of the Mueller investigation, and a proof that Trump would do anything and everything without regard to the legal, ethical and moral considerations just to WIN. WIN. WIN.
Perhaps the President is concerned about losing in 2020 in his re-election bid, as his hoped for victory could, potentially but arguably shield him from indictment pursuant to the DOJ policy that no sitting president should be indicted while in office.
This could also explain why Trump has been consumed in criticizing and badmouthing the Democratic frontrunner, Former Vice President Joe Biden, almost everyday, especially after new national polls had revealed Biden is beating Trump with a double digit lead.
According to the results of a new Quinnipiac University poll, Biden beats Trump – 53 percent to 40 percent in a one-on-one match-up.
Biden wins over Trump among women voters — with 60 percent versus Trump’s 34 percent.
Biden wins among people of color — 85 percent versus Trump’s 12 percent among black voters, and 58 percent versus Trump’s 33 percent among Hispanic voters.
Another poll released by Morning Consult/Politic, reveals an 11 point lead by Biden among registered voters in a hypothetical match-up against Trump. Biden’s 44 percent wins over Trump’s 33 percent.
As the New York Times reported, Trump has been attacking Biden with his usual name-calling over several hours, saying Mr. Biden was “a loser,” “a sleepy guy” and “the weakest mentally,” and claiming that “people don’t respect him.”
Biden, speaking earlier than Trump in a dueling campaign rally in Iowa, laid out ways Trump was “an existential threat” to the country, its international standing and its values.
Biden said, “Our democracy is at risk….Everywhere you turn, Trump is tearing down the quadrics of democracy, tearing down the things that prevent the abuse of power.”
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
