Following the emergence of devastating violence in Israel, some Republicans have been attempting to implicate the Biden administration in some kind of purported responsibility for the attacks that Middle Eastern country has been facing. The terror group Hamas has led a round of violence in which many hundreds of Israelis have been killed. There have also been reports of hundreds dead among the Palestinians as Israeli forces have responded.
The contention from Republicans is that there’s some kind of link to the Biden administration because of their recent decision to free billions of dollars tied to the Iranian government, whose leadership has supported Hamas. But this narrative from the GOP — seeking to capitalize on a growing number of deaths — obscures the actual facts.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) was among those promoting the deception. “What’s shameful is Joe Biden’s decision to give $6 billion to a terrorist regime dedicated to the destruction of Israel,” Hawley claimed. At a foundational level, the potentially readable implication of the Missouri Senator’s commentary that the funds constituted U.S. money is false. They weren’t government funds. Officials also say that, besides the strict controls evidently in place around how the freed up funds can be utilized, none of it has even been spent yet. The federal government spurred the funds developments in conjunction with getting U.S. individuals back from Iran’s government.
Andrew Bates, a member of the communications staff on the Biden team, denounced Hawley’s narrative. “Not shocking that someone who held up their fist in solidarity with a lawless mob that later stormed the Capitol has no understanding of honesty, shame, or national security,” Bates wrote on X (ex-Twitter). “Proving my point, you just lied again. 0 dollars will go to the Iranian government. None. Fact.” Jennifer Griffin, a Fox News journalist, made similar points, explaining on the air how she too had come to understand that the money hadn’t even gone to the Iranians in any form so far. The funds were instead housed with a Qatari financial institution and originate with Iranian oil sales.
Not shocking that someone who held up their fist in solidarity with a lawless mob that later stormed the Capitol has no understanding of honesty, shame, or national security.
Proving my point, you just lied again. 0 dollars will go to the Iranian government. None. Fact. https://t.co/Yo4QhKXXFH
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) October 7, 2023
