So what if it's not a "transcript". It's a confession of guilt.

[customerserviceguy]

2. I know I sound ignorant to say this, but

is there an actual law that was broken?

I know that it's considered bad form to criticize American political figures while overseas, the phrase, "politics stops at the water's edge" comes to mind, but that seems to be more of a tradition, or good manners, or something like that which is short of a law.

It is despicable to ask a foreign entity to do your dirty work, and more so if there is a threat to withhold funds, but is it actually illegal? American money has been used for decades to pick winners and losers overseas, and I don't recall anyone being prosecuted for it.