Democratic California Sen. Barbara Boxer said on Wednesday that the $400 million dollar cash payment to Iran wasn’t a ransom for the Americans held in captivity but “isn’t it great we got back the hostages.”
Appearing on “MSNBC Live” host Thomas Roberts asked Boxer if she was “concerned about how these implications” of the $400 million in cash transported to Iran “could backfire for Secretary Clinton, someone who is so ingratiated herself in the Obama legacy.” (RELATED: White House Acknowledges Iran Might Use $400 Million Payment To Sponsor Terrorism [VIDEO])
“Not at all, because, Thomas, if anyone looks back and takes a minute to go beyond a tweet, this whole dispute with Iran goes back to the ’70s when the Shah of Iran made deal with America,” Boxer claimed.
“$400 million in exchange for weapons. The weapons were never delivered. The $400 million of Iranian money was placed in a trust fund. So what happened is Iran has been trying to get back that money. There was a dispute. It was taken to the Hague and the Hague tribunal and American and Iran decided they would work it out themselves,” Boxer said.
“Well, finally, it got worked out. And according to Admiral Kirby who is at the State Department, it probably saved American tax payers billions of dollars had this gone forward. Remember this is Iranian money. It was in a trust fund. And as the relations warmed a little bit with Iran, this is what happened,” she claimed.
“The deal was cut, the settlement was made, it’s over. And by the way, in a separate track, isn’t it great we got back the hostages. So I think as people look at this, they are going to look at this as a win for America. without a doubt, in my mind,” Boxer said.
“Well we know with Josh Earnest there confirming we don’t pay cash for hostages,” Roberts added.
Talking over Roberts, Boxer said, “That’s right.”
