• drathvedro
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      1 year ago

      PROVIDING MATERIAL SUPPORT TO DESIGNATED TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS (FUNDRAISING) (18 U.S.C. 2339B)

      1. Russian federation is not in the US’s list of terrorist organization
      2. He did not provide anything to Russian federation

      FARA requires the registration of, and disclosures by, an “agent of a foreign principal” who, either directly or through another person, within the United States
      (1) engages in “political activities” on behalf of a foreign principal;

      You’d have a hard time proving that this falls under “political activity” and that he did it because of foreign influence.

      (2) acts as a foreign principal’s public relations counsel, publicity agent, information-service employee, or political consultant;
      (3) solicits, collects, disburses, or dispenses contributions, loans, money, or other things of value for or in the interest of a foreign principal; or
      (4) represents the interests of the foreign principal before any agency or official of the U.S. government. In addition, FARA requires agents to conspicuously label “informational materials” transmitted in the United States for or in the interest of a foreign principal. There are some exemptions to FARA’s registration and labeling requirements for specified categories of agents and activities.

      He does not do anything of this sort

      • uphillbothways@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Under FARA see “information-service employee, or political consultant.” I think there’s a strong argument there that he saw activity on StarLink, discussed it with Putin and then publicly walked that shit back when he realized it was criminal after the fact to cover it up.

        • drathvedro
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          1 year ago

          Have you actually read that law?

          The term “information-service employee” includes any person who is engaged in furnishing, disseminating, or publishing accounts, descriptions, information, or data with respect to the political, industrial, employment, economic, social, cultural, or other benefits, advantages, facts, or conditions of any country other than the United States or of any government of a foreign country or of a foreign political party or of a partnership, association, corporation, organization, or other combination of individuals organized under the laws of, or having its principal place of business in, a foreign country;

          Translated from legalese, that means a person who’s posting stuff like “move to Russia, we have oat cookies, beautiful women, and unwoke laws”. To my knowledge, Musk does not promote Russia, nor has legal entity within Russia.

          The term “political consultant” means any person who engages in informing or advising any other person with reference to the domestic or foreign policies of the United States or the political or public interest, policies, or relations of a foreign country or of a foreign political party.

          That would require Musk to be employed as an advisor to someone. I don’t think there’s anyone who could call Musk his advisor, nor a person that Musk could say he’s working as an advisor for. After all, he’s the richest man in the world, nobody could afford such a service.