Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) relayed his frustration with President Joe Biden (D) as he allegedly sent upwards of $6 billion to Iran in a hostage deal approximately two months ago.
He believes that the funds from this transfer impacted the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, committed by Hamas.
“About two months ago, President Biden agreed to hand over $6 BILLION as a part of a hostage deal with Tehran. Shortly after, Hamas, which receives hundreds of millions of dollars from Iran annually, launched an unprecedented and horrific attack on Israel on October 7th,” said Rep. Mast. “But instead of admitting this mistake and finding a way to claw back the money, the Biden Administration doubled down and minced words, saying that the money was not going to Iran.”
Although he did not mention him by name, Rep. Mast alluded to his exchange with Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY) over whether or not the money was or was not in fact going to Iran.
“And that was the lie that was repeated by a Democrat member who said the money is not going into Iran ‘as we speak’ and that ‘they cannot access the money today.’ When I pressured him and asked if the money was going into Iran eventually, he repeated his talking points,” said Mast.
The Florida representative argues that although Iran cannot access the funds immediately, the Biden administration has sent more in total funding to Iran than what the Republicans proposed and passed in the House to send to America’s ally, Israel.
“The lesson here should’ve been that handing over billions of dollars to our enemy will only strengthen them and put our allies in harm's way. But President Biden, instead, allowed Iran to access an additional $10 BILLION. That is a total of $16 billion Iran can access, which is $1.7 billion more than the aid package to Israel that House Republicans passed and that President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are refusing to take up,” said Mast.
He concluded, “As the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability, I cannot fathom why a single dollar is allowed to flow to the largest state sponsor of terror, and I’ll continue to demand answers.”
Congressman Brian Mast represents Florida’s 21st District.
