Thread by @marty_lederman

1/ Questions about Giuliani's role: The recent accounts make it sound as if he--the POTUS's personal lawyer--was representing the United States in diplomacy w/a foreign nation. In what capacity? Was he hired by the federal government--and if so, to what office or employment?

2/ Was he volunteering? If so, is that a violation of 31 USC 1342, or did some other law authorize someone (Trump? Pompeo?) to accept his (uncompensated?) services? I'm not suggesting this was unlawful (not yet, anyway)--only trying to understand what happened.

@just_security

3/ Presumably he was a "special envoy" or "special agent"--see pp. 102-04:

justice.gov/file/451191/do…

and @ryanscoville:

scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewconten…

That still leaves the question (doesn't it?) of volunteer services under section 1342-- ...

HT: @MargLTaylor

4/ ... and whether there's any particular problem with the POTUS hiring his personal lawyer as a "special envoy" to represent the U.S.