The Patriot Post® · Top DOJ Official Denounced Ransom Payment to Iran

If the criticism over the $400 million Barack Obama gave to Iran is a bunch of malarkey, as his administration attests, then why did the head of the national security division at the Justice Department wave red flags over the idea?

The startling revelation comes courtesy of a new Wall Street Journal report. According to WSJ, “John Carlin, a Senate-confirmed administration appointee, raised concerns when the State Department notified Justice officials of its plan to deliver to Iran a planeful of cash, saying it would be viewed as a ransom payment, these people said.” Carlin is not just anybody — he’s a TOP Justice official.

As the Journal goes on to explain, “The objection of senior Justice Department officials was that Iranian officials were likely to view the $400 million payment as ransom, thereby undercutting a longstanding U.S. policy that the government doesn’t pay ransom for American hostages… The policy is based on a concern that paying ransom could encourage more Americans to become targets for hostage-takers.” They were right.

Aside from the terrible optics and violation of criminal law this situation created, the DOJ’s concerns also fail to corroborate Obama’s narrative: “A Justice Department spokesman has said the agency ‘fully supported the ultimate outcome of the administration’s resolution of several issues with Iran,’ including the settlement of the long-running arms case, ‘as well as the return of U.S. citizens detained in Iran.’”

Meanwhile, the Obama administration has given Iran its blessing in building two additional nuclear plants. But what’s more likely: That Iran won’t use these plants predominately for nuclear proliferation in the form of a radioactive bomb, or that Obama’s $400 million cash payment wasn’t considered a ransom payment? Either way, America loses.