Facebook admits it illegally permitted a foreign country to actively meddle in democratic process

[rogue emissary]

31. Making any contribution or donation of money or "other thing of value"

these ads apply just as if a foreign entity tried to buy campaign ads on TV. It's still illegal and falls under the same statutes.

FB admitted the ads were paid for with Russian Rubles and many believe the ad buy was sent from a foreign server.

Soliciting, accepting, or receiving contributions and donations from foreign nationals

The Act prohibits knowingly soliciting, accepting or receiving contributions or donations from foreign nationals. In this context, "knowingly" means that a person:

Has actual knowledge that the funds solicited, accepted, or received are from a foreign national;
Is aware of facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the funds solicited, accepted, or received are likely to be from a foreign national; or
Is aware of facts that would lead a reasonable person to inquire whether the source of the funds solicited, accepted or received is a foreign national.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/congress-will-get-to-see-russias-facebook-propaganda-will-you

Facebook has not actively released details of any of the posts or events to the public, nor has it said how many Kremlin-backed Facebook groups they’ve identified. (A few Kremlin-backed posts and groups covertly posting political content during last year’s election were first identified this year by outlets including The Daily Beast, then later acknowledged by Facebook after those press reports.) The propaganda groups identified so far purchased ads using rubles under the name of a known St. Petersburg troll farm.