Here we go again with more of that NFL distraction, the Manafort trial must really be ruffling feathers.
I’m going to go ahead and guess that Trump doesn’t realize that NFL players are not government employees that he can personally fire or reprimand. Nor, would I imagine that Trump knows he just violated the First Amendment.
**(a)Whoever, being a covered government person, with the intent to influence, solely on the basis of partisan political affiliation, an employment decision or employment practice of any private entity—(1)**takes or withholds, or offers or threatens to take or withhold, an official act, or**(2)**influences, or offers or threatens to influence, the official act of another,shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both, and may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.
**(b)In this section, the term “covered government person” means—(1)**a Senator or Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress;**(2)**an employee of either House of Congress; or**(3)**the President, Vice President, an employee of the United StatesPostal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission, or any other executive branch employee (as such term is defined under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code).
What Trump is doing is illegal. The protests are a partisan issue, only Republicans are taking issue. Suspension/termination/etc… are employment decisions, and the NFL is a private entity.
Issuing a statement is an official act. In the past, he has threatened to change tax law regarding NFL teams unless they changed their employment practices, which is undeniably a threat to take an official act.
Add it to the pile…
It’s continually amazing to me just how many laws this administration can break in plain view and in public record and how there are no consequences.
Recovering Democracy 