This is quite similar to the Clinton Foundation's accepting money from Russians who then obtained uranium deposits in North America which required Secretary of State approval, as far as I am concerned.

Everyone says there was no quid pro quo and no lawbreaking was involved.

Nonetheless, I was 'concerned' about it.  

Off the record contacts occur constantly between governmental agents; the Snowden WikiLeaks gave us records of dozens of such events.

It is 'legal', for example, for the NSA to monitor Angela Merkel's cell phone; the disclosure of that fact was only illegal for Snowden, not the NSA.  The effect on German-US relations is something to be 'concerned' about, however.