Eleanor Finch
Foreign interference in elections is a serious issue that undermines the integrity of the democratic process. In the United States, federal law prohibits foreign nationals and governments from contributing money or other things of value to influence elections. Despite this, there have been notable instances of soliciting foreign interference in US elections, notably by former President Donald Trump, who asked foreign governments to investigate his political rivals. This has led to discussions about impeachment and sanctions to address such actions. The US government has introduced measures like Executive Order 13848 and the Prevention of Foreign Interference with Elections Act of 2019 to combat foreign interference, but loopholes and inadequate laws have allowed foreign adversaries to continue influencing US elections, particularly through digital means.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of the crime | Federal crimeElection crimeCrime against democratic self-governance |
| Who is involved | Foreign nationals, including foreign citizens and governmentsDomestic actorsPresidentPresidential candidatesPolitical partiesPolitical committeesPACs |
| What is involved | Money or other things of valueFalse voter registrationSabotaging the integrity of the electoral processInfluencing public opinionDisinformationSocial media campaignsEmail hackingBroadcast or internet adsDark money |
| Legal framework | Federal lawU.S. CodeExecutive Order 13848International Emergency Economic Powers ActNational Emergencies ActForeign Interference in U.S. Elections SanctionsElection Security Act of 2019Prevention of Foreign Interference with Elections Act of 2019PAID Act |
| Penalties | ImpeachmentCriminal misdemeanor or felony depending on the value involved |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Federal law prohibits foreign interference in US elections
- Foreign nationals are banned from contributing to elections
- Soliciting foreign interference can lead to impeachment
- Foreign interference can take the form of disinformation and social media manipulation
- Existing laws may not adequately address foreign interference
Federal law prohibits foreign interference in US elections
Federal law also bans foreign nationals, including foreign citizens and governments, from spending money in federal, state, and local elections. However, foreign interests have spent substantial sums to influence US elections, exposing the vulnerabilities of campaign finance laws. For instance, Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report confirmed that foreign interests made significant, systematic efforts to secretly influence the 2016 US elections through paid digital advertising and fake social media accounts.
Following the 2020 elections, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence reported continued attempts by Russia and Iran to influence US elections through disinformation and social media campaigns. To prevent foreign interference, states and local governments can tighten restrictions on foreign campaign spending and stop secret, unlimited political contributions. Plugging loopholes that permit foreign spending and creating full transparency about the sources of campaign funds are crucial steps.
Federal law also prohibits a person from soliciting, accepting, or receiving a "contribution or donation of money or other thing of value" from a foreign national in connection with a US election. Despite this, there have been allegations that former President Donald Trump repeatedly solicited foreign interference in US elections. Trump asked Russia to find Hillary Clinton's "missing" emails in 2016 and requested that a foreign government investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, in 2020. These actions have been described as a pattern of soliciting foreign interference to maintain political power.
Full-Time Student Status: What's the Hourly Commitment?
You may want to see also
Foreign nationals are banned from contributing to elections
Foreign nationals are prohibited by federal law from contributing to any federal, state, or local elections in the US. This includes monetary contributions, as well as indirect contributions or donations of other things of value. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is tasked with enforcing these laws, but it has been criticised for its failure to do so effectively.
The prohibition on foreign national contributions is not absolute, however. Foreign nationals with green cards are exempt from the ban and are legally permitted to contribute money and services to US political campaigns. Additionally, some foreign nationals without green cards may contribute voluntary non-monetary services to campaigns, as long as they are not compensated for their work.
Despite these exceptions, the US has a long history of cautioning against foreign interference in its elections. Since the 2016 election, which saw Russian interference, regulators and Congress have acknowledged the importance of combatting foreign influence.
In the context of soliciting foreign interference in elections, former President Donald Trump has been accused of asking foreign governments to interfere in US elections to help him maintain power. In one instance, Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, which resulted in an impeachment inquiry.
USC Med School: Science GPA Course Requirements
You may want to see also
Soliciting foreign interference can lead to impeachment
Soliciting foreign interference in an election is a serious crime that can indeed lead to impeachment. Federal law prohibits a person from soliciting, accepting, or receiving a "contribution or donation of money or other things of value" from a foreign national in connection with a US election. This includes soliciting foreign governments to influence elections through broadcast or internet ads, conducting investigations that could damage political opponents, or providing damaging information about a political candidate.
The US government has introduced several laws to prevent foreign interference in elections, including Executive Order 13848, the Election Security Act of 2019, and the Prevention of Foreign Interference with Elections Act of 2019. These laws aim to increase election security, boost voter confidence, and protect the integrity of American elections.
Despite these efforts, there have been notable instances of foreign interference in US elections. For example, during the 2016 election, Russian government agents hacked the email accounts of Democratic campaign officials, and Russian intelligence attempted to break into the servers used by Clinton's personal office. In another instance, then-President Donald Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, leading to an impeachment inquiry.
The impeachment process is a tool to sanction a President who solicits foreign involvement in an election. It serves as a check on the President's constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations and reinforces the gravity with which federal authorities view election interference.
While there are laws in place to prevent foreign interference, there have been criticisms that these laws have not kept up with the digital age, allowing foreign interests to exploit loopholes and spend substantial sums to influence US elections through digital advertising and social media campaigns. This highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining election integrity and protecting democratic self-governance.
The President: Leading the Executive Branch in Democracy
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Foreign interference can take the form of disinformation and social media manipulation
Foreign interference in elections is a serious crime, as evidenced by the impeachment inquiry of former US President Donald Trump, who solicited foreign interference in the 2020 US election. Trump asked the Ukrainian President to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, which was not an isolated incident. Trump has repeatedly asked foreign governments to interfere in US elections, including asking Russia to find Hillary Clinton's "missing" emails in 2016.
Social media platforms play a crucial role in mitigating foreign interference. In Poland's 2025 presidential election, Facebook was used for political ads that may have been financed from abroad, although the platform disputed this claim. Poland's Digital Affairs Minister asserted that Russia was responsible for the campaign, while Russia denied the allegations. Facebook's verification process requires individuals running ads related to social issues, elections, or politics to prove their identity and residency in the country. However, critics argue that tech companies should not be the ones deciding what constitutes free speech.
To address foreign interference, the US government established the Foreign Malign Influence Center in 2022 as a command hub to combat electoral disinformation. Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign officials complicit in censoring Americans' free speech. This policy response highlights the recognition of foreign interference as a clear and present danger to the democratic process.
Lecompton Constitution: A Civil War Catalyst
You may want to see also
Existing laws may not adequately address foreign interference
In the United States, federal law prohibits individuals from soliciting, accepting, or receiving "contributions or donations of money or other things of value" from foreign nationals in relation to US elections. However, existing laws may not adequately address foreign interference due to loopholes and a lack of enforcement.
For instance, the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) has interpreted the ban on foreign spending in elections to only apply to races for elective office, allowing foreign interests to funnel money into state and local ballot measure campaigns. This interpretation has provided an avenue for foreign entities to exert influence. Additionally, inadequate electoral transparency laws and the FEC's inaction have allowed foreign actors to exploit digital channels, such as social media and online advertising, to secretly influence US elections without detection.
The Prevention of Foreign Interference with Elections Act of 2019, which aimed to address these issues by creating new criminal penalties and prohibitions, failed to pass. Similarly, the Election Security Act of 2019, which sought to improve election infrastructure security and limit foreign involvement in domestic political polls, did not succeed.
In the United Kingdom, the National Security Bill introduces a general offence of foreign interference, targeting malign activity carried out for or intended to benefit a foreign power. This offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years' imprisonment and a fine. However, it remains to be seen how effective this legislation will be in addressing foreign interference in UK elections.
In conclusion, while there are laws in place to prevent foreign interference in elections, they may not be sufficient to address the evolving nature of election interference, particularly in the digital domain. The failure to pass additional legislation to strengthen existing laws further highlights the potential inadequacies in addressing this complex issue.
Foundations of Freedom: Guarding Tyranny with the US Constitution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Election interference often involves foreign actors meddling with local affairs. Foreign interference is when a foreign country intends to manipulate or influence the domestic matters of another country.
Yes, it is illegal to solicit foreign interference in an election. Federal law prohibits a person from soliciting, accepting or receiving a “contribution or donation of money or other thing of value” from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election.
Soliciting foreign interference in an election is a federal crime and can result in impeachment.
Yes, there have been several instances of soliciting foreign interference in elections in the US. One notable example was during the 2016 election when Russian government agents hacked the email accounts of Democratic campaign officials.
