Jen Psaki and GOP Rep Mike Lawler Spar Over $6 Billion Unfrozen Iranian Assets: ‘You’re Not Listening to What I Just Said!’
MSNBC host Jen Psaki and GOP Rep Mike Lawler had a spirited discussion over the Biden administration’s release of $6 billion in frozen assets to Iran.
Since the horrible conflict between the terrorist group Hamas and Israeli civilians broke out this weekend over occupied territories and Palestinian rights, the hostage deal with Iran that President Joe Biden signed off on has once again become a political football. Iran has long been a sponsor of Hamas.
Many Republican leaders and right-of-center political commentators have blamed the Biden administration for releasing the frozen Iranian assets to be used solely for humanitarian aid through a Qatari financial proxy, arguing about the fungibility of monetary resources.
Lawler made this argument during a Sunday appearance on MSNBC after Psaki brought up a similar approach to prisoner release undertaken by the Trump administration:
Psaki: I want to start with the attack in Israel yesterday and something you tweeted. You tweeted, quote, “These terrorists have been emboldened by the Biden administration’s failed policies of appeasement towards Iran with a $6 billion cash giveaway.” Now, this is a talking point we’re hearing a lot right now, but I think we all believe in the facts. So I just want to give a few of those. The $6 billion is part of a deal to bring five prisoners home. It’s not U.S. taxpayer money. It’s still being held in a secure bank account in Doha. And each transaction will be monitored by the US Treasury Department at a cent of it has been spent. Would you dispute any of those facts I just laid out in any kind of way now?
Lawler: No, not at all. But it goes to my point that I raised two weeks ago with the administration in a foreign affairs hearing, which is that we should not be trading sanctioned funds for hostages. Obviously, in this instance, we traded those folks that we had been holding in exchange for hostages. And in addition to that, the Biden administration released $6 billion in sanctioned Iranian funds. The problem is, Jan, when you do that, money is fungible. And so Iran is able to shift other resources that it otherwise would not have been able to do. Congress’s militarism, they are the greatest…
Psaki: I’m going to stop short that, because what you just stated, what you just stated, they are the….
Lawler: State sponsor of terrorism
Psaki: of funding. Congressman, the funding does not go to Iranian hands. It goes to approved third party vendors who provide humanitarian support. I did want to ask you, though, Congressman, because the Trump administration….
Lawler: Also with all due respect, Jen, Jen, with all due respect, you’re not listening to what I just said. The bottom line is when you are releasing sanctioned funds, that that goes to Iran ultimately, okay. Whether you want to say it is to purchase food and clothing and other humanitarian relief. The bottom line is money is fungible and you are freeing up other resources they would otherwise have needed to spend on such efforts. And they are the greatest state sponsor of terrorism, period. And we just have a difference of opinion on how they should be handled. I believe this administration has been weak when it comes to Iran. I think they have tried to appease Iran. They have also tried to force Israel. When it comes to Saudi Arabia to acquiesce to the Palestinians and I’m sorry the Palestinians are still engaged in pay to slay. We just held a hearing on this two weeks ago. And the administration has been very weak on enforcing the Taylor Force Act. And this is a real challenge in the region. So to act as though that isn’t a problem. I’m sorry, I disagree.
Psaki: Congresswoman, and no one’s acting like it’s not a problem. However, and I think the administration has been clear about their concerns about Iranians or Iran’s actions as well. But it is not money that goes to the Iranian government, I think is important people. I did want to ask you, though, the Trump administration did strike a similar deal. Were they allowed the government to draw on human or third party groups to draw humanitarian funds that was verified by the U.S. Treasury and in exchange for bringing prisoners home? Did you disapprove of that deal as well?
Lawler: Well, the the bottom line at all times in our government is we should not be sanctioning funds and then releasing those sanctioned funds. So at any administration that does that, it’s wrong. I just fundamentally oppose that concept. If we are engaged in sanctions and I’ve introduced legislation, for instance, the SHIP Act, which would further sanction Iranian petroleum, if we’re going to implement sanctions, we should adhere to those. Obviously, we want to bring hostages home. And oftentimes what we have done and what the Trump administration did do was exchange hostages that Iran was holding in exchange for terrorists that we had. But to to trade funds, to me as part of any such agreement is wrong and I’ve opposed it then, I oppose it now. And I just think the idea that you’re you’re saying, well, the Trump administration did it, too. Look…
Psaki: I wasn’t validating, Congressman. I was asking…
Lawler: This is foolish. We need to be strong…..
Psaki: I was asking you for your your view.
Lawler: …in opposition to Iran.
Psaki: Well, I think everyone agrees on that. But I think when you sit on the Oval Office, whether you’re I mean.
Lawler: I think it’s wrong any time it’s done.
Psaki: Let me let me finish, Congressman. When you’re sitting in the Oval Office and you’re making a decision about how to bring hostages home, there’s a question if you if it’s between unfreezing this money that could be used for humanitarian aid, doesn’t go to the government or no deal at all, would you choose? No deal. That’s what it sounds like to me.
Lawler: But you have the Iranians, you have the Iranian regime saying that they’re not going to use it the way that the United States prescribes. Okay. And so you can sit here and say, oh, what’s going through Qatar? Well, Qatar also has a relationship with Hamas. So there are real challenges here right now. And what we saw yesterday was a terrorist attack by Hamas. And they are sponsored by and backed by Iran. And so the challenge to me and the question to me as we move forward is how do we handle the challenges we are facing in the Middle East? Appeasement is not a solution. And freeing up $6 billion in sanction funds is wrong. I oppose it. And I just think fundamentally that maybe a difference of opinion by by me and the administration. But I think when you are freeing up funds that have been sanctioned and money is fungible, you are freeing up other funds that Iran would otherwise have to use on humanitarian efforts among its country. And that, to me, is wrong.
