1/ Getting “dirt” on a political opponent from Russians is not a crime. 52 USC 30121 prohibits foreign nationals from contributing a “thing of value” to any US campaign. And it is unlawful for someone to “solicit, accept or receive” such a thing of value.
2/ But information alone cannot possibly be a “thing of value.” Courts would find that conveying and receiving such information is protected by the First Amendment, particularly in light of the Supreme Court’s opinion in Citizens United.
3/ Were it otherwise, the Clinton campaign would be in a jam over the Trump opposition research it received from Russians through former British spy Michael Steele.
4/ The real question will be whether Trump campaign personnel knew and agreed to anything else. Did they know about email hacking? Or other efforts to disrupt the election? If so, the very broad conspiracy laws may be implicated. But there is currently no such evidence.
Correction: Christoper (not Michael) Steele ht Ted Mann
