Mormon Church Target of Foreign Corrupt Practices & Logan Act Complaints
Former Senator Gordon Smith’s Admission Leads to Request for Investigation
Letters Delivered to Sec. of State Rex Tillerson & Attorney General Jeff Sessions
Request for Attorney General to Recuse Himself from Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC – In a letter delivered Wednesday to both Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Secular Coalition for America and Rights Equal Rights asked both Trump Cabinet Secretaries to investigate charges that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church may have broken two serious federal laws.
The letter was delivered in person Wednesday to both Cabinet Secretaries by Larry Decker, Executive Director of Washington, DC based Secular Coalition for America, and Fred Karger, President of the Los Angeles based Rights Equal Rights. and was broadcast live on Facebook Live The letters were also sent via FedEx to both Cabinet members.
In the five-page letter dated March 15, 2017 (CLICK HERE and below) both the State and Justice Departments are asked to investigate the Mormon Church, former United States Senator Gordon H. Smith, and Mormon Church Lobbyist Ralph W. Hardy, Jr. for violations of the Logan Act and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
This request for an investigation comes as a result of a leaked video released last fall by MormonLeaks.io The 48-minute video was widely reported on by the New York Times, Washington Post, and a host of other news outlets. At the very end of his presentation to the Twelve Mormon Apostles, Senator Smith gloats how he was able to personally secure 200 impossible to obtain two year Visas from the Indian Ambassador to the United States for 200 Mormon Missionaries.
Request for Attorney General Sessions to Recuse Himself
We are formally asking Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from any potential investigation by the Justice Department into the Mormon Church’s alleged violations of both the Logan Act and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
General Sessions served in the United States Senate with Senator Smith for twelve years (1997 to 2009). Both men were elected in 1996 and were two of the four freshmen in the GOP class of 1997. Former Senators Sessions and Smith worked together and were very close. For that reason, we strongly feel General Sessions cannot be objective and should recuse himself from any investigation of Senator Smith, the Mormon Church, and Church lobbyist Ralph W. Hardy, Jr. by the Department of Justice. General Sessions recently recused himself in the DOJ’s investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn for his dealings with Russian officials while communicating with then-President-elect Trump’s Transition Team.
Leaked Mormon Church Video Exposes Potential Federal Violations
Thanks to the heroes at MormonLeaks.io the world is getting a glimpse into the inner workings of the highly secretive Mormon Church and all it does to influence American politicians and world leaders.
Senator Smith’s presentation to the 12 Mormon Apostles: CLICK HERE (Visa discussion comes up at about 44:30 in). The presentation occurred in January 2009, right after he lost his bid for reelection.
Logan Act
Under the Logan Act (18 U.S.C.A. § 953 [1948]), it is a federal crime for a citizen to confer with foreign governments against the interests of the United States. Under the statute any citizen who, without the authority of the U.S. government, communicates with a foreign government with respect to any disputes or controversies with the United States or to defeat the “measures of” the United States, may be fined or imprisoned.
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
§ 78dd–2 – Prohibited foreign trade practices by domestic concerns.
(a) Prohibition
It shall be unlawful for any domestic concern, other than an issuer which is subject to section 78dd–1 of this title, or for any officer, director, employee, or agent of such domestic concern or any stockholder thereof acting on behalf of such domestic concern, to make use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment of any money, or offer, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to—
(1) any foreign official for purposes of—
(A)
(i) influencing any act or decision of such foreign official in his official capacity,
(ii) inducing such foreign official to do or omit to do any act in violation of the lawful duty of such official, or
(iii) securing any improper advantage; or
(B) inducing such foreign official to use his influence with a foreign government or instrumentality thereof to affect or influence any act or decision of such government or instrumentality,
Under the Foreign Corrupts Practices Act (15 U.S. Code § 78dd–2), it is a crime for US persons and companies to make corrupt payments to foreign officials to obtain business. Those who violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act may also be fined or imprisoned.
