WASHINGTON — Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Wednesday introduced legislation that would “automatically” punish family members of people who violate U.S. sanctions against Iran, levying sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
The provision was introduced as an amendment to the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013, which lays out strong penalties for people who violate human rights, engage in censorship, or commit other abuses associated with the Iranian government.
Cotton also seeks to punish any family member of those people, “to include a spouse and any relative to the third degree,” including, “parents, children, aunts, uncles, nephews nieces, grandparents, great grandparents, grandkids, great grandkids,” Cotton said.
It really happened. Today. No kidding.
You can have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, or democracy. But you cannot have both.
Whatever Works 
This is amazing. Maybe he works for the private prison companies.
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I think he’s even too stupid for them Donald!
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Just when you think people cant surprise you anymore and Wham!, right between the eyes. I was about to make a snippy comment about you Americans and then I realized we have a few like that up here in Canada to.
😦
Holy Whackos Batman.
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If it’s spreading to Canada, I weep for us all .. .
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Considering that usually when sanctions are violated it’s by large corporations trying to make a profit……….it would be interesting to see family members of CEO’s hauled off to prison.
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Yeah fatherkane, just like the banksters got thrown in the slammer after the crash.
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Sounds good to me. The nature of Muslim family structure and economics makes this a practical and needed law when dealing with them.
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How very Islamist of you jonolan – the Taliban would welcome you with open arms with such a 15th century attitude. As for how you’d apply the rule, would it be reserved for American Muslims?
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Yeah, this kind of sounds like the Old Testament curse which applies for generations to come…weird.
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Did you bother to read the actual bill, Moe? This whole thing would have only applied to “foreign persons” and would not be applicable to US Citizens — though the rules governing corporate entities would.
It addresses the ongoing and admitted problem that Muslims just “hide” monies with relatives in order to evade various prosecutions and sanctions.
It’s truly a shame that you love the Muslims – Iranians in this case – more than the people who co-reside within the nation you live in.
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Yeah, I do love me some Muslims jonolan. All the time. I cheered wildly when the Towers came down when I wasn’t weeping with my New York born and bred father.
Did I read the bill? No. Why even bother. It’s so beyond the pale as to invite nothing but scorn from a free people. It’s Guantanamo on steroids.
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Article III of the Constitution explicitly bans Congress from punishing treason based on “corruption of blood” — cannot be punished based only on a familial tie. The Fifth Amendment reads “no person … shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,” and makes no distinctions regarding citizenship.
But that’s the Constitution jonolan, and I’m not sure you’re aboard with all of it.
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!!!
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Relative of Adolph Hitler? Cleanse the race.
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Amazing what one can find just be listening.
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The mind boggles
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