Senator Scott Joins Rubio to Stop Obama Ransom Payments

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the Obama Administration’s ransom payments to Iran, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and other colleagues today to introduce the No Ransom Payments Act. The legislation, authored by Rubio,would prohibit the federal government from paying ransom, and stop payments to Iran from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Judgment Fund until Iran returns the ransom money it received and pays the American victims of Iranian terrorism what they are owed.

“First President Obama signs a terrible nucleardeal with Iran, and months later the American people find out about a $400 million ransom payment to the Iranian government. While we are certainly pleased these unjustly imprisoned Americans are back home, even the State Department’s own spokesperson said the $400 million was used as a “leverage” to get back them back. This has set a terrible precedent, and has put a price on American lives all around the globe.The Obama administration’s decision has put thousands of Americans, both at home and abroad, in vulnerable situations.

All of this happeneddespite the fact that Iran has shown us time and time again they cannot be trusted. Earlier this year, Iran captured and detained 10 of our sailors, and last month Iranian vessels harassed a U.S. Navy ship near the Persian Gulf, which resulted in our personnel being forced to fire warning shots. All of this, and the Obama Administration responds by further funding Iranian terrorism-it’s just unreal and completely unacceptable.I’m proud to join Senator Rubio to introduce the No Ransom Payments Act to put a stop to these dangerous decisions being made by the Obama Administration.”

The No Ransom Payments Act was introduced by Senator Rubio and is also co-sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), John Barrasso (R-WY), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). It was also introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Pompeo (KS-04).