Trump Thread

[Sarmatian]

What is not omitted, is admitted. The law does not specifically omit "information", so it will be considered under the literal meaning of "thing of value".

Is the intent of the law to avert or mitigate foreign interference with election campaigns? Yes.

Is receiving opposition research from a foreign national associated with their government an example of foreign interference with a election campaign? Yes.

Is information pursuant to a campaign literally a "thing of value" to the opposing campaign? Yes.

It is not really that simple. Any foreign news organization would be guilty of breaking that law if they publish something negative about a candidate, because it could help the other candidate. And lot of news organizations receive money from their government in some way, shape or form.

Under your interpretation, that law was broken thousands of times during this campaign. Anyone foreign who published anything bad about Trump could be prosecuted.