(03-19-2020, 01:57 PM)mikesez Wrote:

(03-19-2020, 12:44 PM)JagNGeorgia Wrote: Are you saying that they violated federal law or no? Because, if the federal court system isn't the right forum, then they didn't break federal law.

That doesn't follow.
The individuals (almost certainly) broke federal law.  Whether or not a legal procedure takes place now doesn't change the fact of what they did then.
But because they enjoy the protection of Russia, they can not be tried in US courts.  Russia could argue that US law doesn't apply to these people, but the US would argue it does.  
Treaties between the US and Russia would have to set the venue, procedures, and applicable laws for any trial.

You said federal court isn't the right venue. Is it the correct venue except that Russia is shielding them from prosecution or is it the wrong venue and they shouldn't have been charged? How is Russia protecting them, BTW? They showed up to court. The court proceedings didn't take place because the prosecution voluntarily dropped the charges. Existing treaties already establish rules for these instances. The government isn't going to negotiate where these crimes would be prosecuted. They have jurisdiction or they don't. 

Governments can negotiate the extradition of foreign nationals based on applicable laws but that isn't happening here.

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