Foreign Affairs Chairman: ‘It Was Ransom’'

(CNSNews.com) - House Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce said in an interview with Fox News today that the $400 million payment that the Obama administration made to Iran as it was releasing a group of Americans it had imprisoned was in fact ransom.

“It was ransom,” said Royce.

Royce’s statement came after State Department Spokesman John Kirby conceded at the department’s press briefing today that the final hand over of the $400 million—which was flown to Iran in cash—was not made until the prisoners were released.

“I am saying the events came together simultaneously," said Kirby said at today's briefing. "But obviously, when you are inside that 24-hour period and you already now have concerns about the endgame in terms of getting your Americans out, it would have been foolish, imprudent, irresponsible, for us not to try to maintain maximum leverage. So, if you are asking me if there was a connection in that regard at the endgame, I’m not going to deny that.”

A reporter asked Kirby: “So, getting away from the word 'leverage,' which is--in basic English, you’re saying you wouldn’t give them $400 million in cash until the prisoners were released? Correct?”

Kirby replied: “That’s correct.”

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