07/07/2015
https://congress.gov...
"To me, it was textbook ransom. And the Iranians viewed it as ransom because I have seen the tapes of their comments when this transaction occurred."
"the Obama administration paid $1.7 billion to Iran in exchange for hostages."
"The U.S. should never pay ransom for the release of our citizens held hostage abroad."
"The head of the Justice Department's National Security Division warned that Iran would see this as ransom and would respond to this by taking more Americans hostage."