Today, after weeks of denials, the State Department admitted what was already obvious to the world: that the Obama administration’s shady, $400-million cash payment to Iran was the dictionary-definition of a ransom payment (The Associated Press, August 18, 2016). Democratic Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto, who has been a vocal supporter of the Iran nuclear deal and even fundraised off it (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jan. 26, 2016) has been completely silent on this stunning revelation.

“On a weekly basis, the Iran nuclear deal, which was sold to the American people under false pretenses, makes our country less safe,” said Dr. Joe Heck for U.S. Senate spokesperson Brian Baluta. “Yet our opponent, Catherine Cortez Masto, continues to put her political party before the safety of Nevadans by supporting a deal that enriched the largest state sponsor of terror with an untraceable fortune. This reckless decision only encourages adversaries like Iran to imprison more Americans, which of course happened again since the ransom was paid.”

The Wall Street Journal reported (August 3, 2016) that at the time of the payment, Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders boasted “Taking this much money back was in return for the release of the American spies.” The Journal also reported “Since the cash shipment, the intelligence arm of the Revolutionary Guard has arrested two more Iranian-Americans… Friends and family of the Namazis believe the Iranians are seeking to increase their leverage to force another prisoner exchange or cash payment in the final six months of the Obama administration.”

Previously, when pressed, Cortez Masto could not cite a single element of the Iran nuclear deal with which she has concerns. The Obama Administration has already said they ‘don’t have a way‘ of knowing if Iran will use the billions unfrozen by the nuclear deal to fund terror.

“Ms. Cortez Masto continues to demonstrate that her national security positions are informed by campaign contributors, personal ambition, and political calculations with little regard to facts,” said Baluta. “After 30 years of partisan politics over people from Harry Reid, Nevadans cannot afford more of the same.”

State Dept. says $400 million cash payment to Iran was contingent on American prisoners’ release
The Associated Press
August 18, 2016 - 3:41PM
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/state-dept-says-400-million-cash-payment-to-iran-was-contingent-on-american-prisoners-release/2016/08/18/ba59e222-657b-11e6-b4d8-33e931b5a26d_story.html

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