From his seat on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, a Florida congressman is looking to ensure President Barack Obama can’t ignore Congress as the administration transfers captured terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay.
U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., took aim at Obama on Friday, pointing to the administration transferring five prisoners from Guantanamo Bay and sending them to the United Arab Emirates. Four of the five released terrorists were deemed no longer a threat by the Guantanamo Review Task Force. One was ruled a possible threat by the task force but that decision was overruled by another board.
“The United States is grateful to the government of the United Arab Emirates for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility,” the Pentagon announced when news of the transfer broke. “The United States coordinated with the government of the United Arab Emirates to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.”
Yoho brought out the “Guantanamo Transfer Prevention Act” on Thursday, insisting Obama was ignoring the National Defense Authorization Act and was bypassing Congress.
“President Obama repeatedly shows America how little he cares for the rule of law and the safety of our country,” Yoho said on Friday. “Right after signing a defense authorization act that prohibits the use of funds to transfer GITMO detainees, the president did it anyway. The president cannot transfer anyone from that facility without getting permission from Congress. His actions are a direct violation of the law.
“To counteract his actions, my bill will stop the executive branch from bypassing Congress and will not allow this president, or any president, from transferring detainees,” Yoho added. “Additionally, this bill will prevent Obama or any future president from transferring any of the facilities to Cuba or any other foreign government without, first, receiving Congress’s approval. There are billions of dollars invested in our facilities at Guantanamo – paid for by the American taxpayers.
“I presumed a man who taught constitutional law would know better, but time and again, this president does whatever he wants to do and walks all over the very document we hold dear,” Yoho concluded. “When the threat of worldwide terrorism is escalating, you would expect our president to do what is best for America’s national security and not try to fulfill a campaign promise; that only shows terrorists that we are retreating.”
Yoho rounded up some leading Republicans including U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-NC, and U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., to serve as co-sponsors. Fellow Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, the chairman of the U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee, is also a co-sponsor. The bill has been sent to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
Comments
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Thank you for your strong