Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of State, June 4, 2018
Note it cites "Sec. 709" of PUBLIC LAW 114–323—DEC. 16, 2016, which refers to "Ransoms to foreign terrorist organizations."
Here's the full text the law:
PUBLIC LAW 114–323—DEC. 16, 2016
The timing of the Obama administration's law (right after he lost the election) made me think he was in desperate "cover-up mode" and reminded me of the accusations surrounding his shipment of millions of dollars to Iran on pallets.
Many news agencies reported on it (which is odd) in fall of 2016, although the shipment occurred in January. Obama denied the shipment was ransom money and instead said it was part of a payment on a 1.7 billion debt owed Iran, which at an international tribunal in The Hague, had claimed it was owed over a failed 1979 arms deal. In fall 2016, MSM talking heads gently "wondered" about the timing as it occurred when Iranian hostages were released. The following (surprisingly) unflattering press example is dated 8/3/2016.
Title of Article:
Obama paid $400M ‘ransom’ to Iran
The following post by CNN was more supportive of Obama's shipment (posed the issue as Republican attacks) and I find this quote interesting:
"The line of argument was intensified by GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump just moments before the President's comments, though he also complicated his message by referring to having seen a video of the transfer whose existence others have doubted."
IN the article, Trump commented about having seen the plane in question. Apparently, to underscore his assertions, Trump tweeted this "clarification":
"The plane I saw on television was the hostage plane in Geneva, Switzerland, not the plane carrying $400 million in cash going to Iran!
3:39 AM - Aug 5, 2016"
CNN attempted to "help" readers understand the import of Trump's comments by disputing that the photo showed the correct plane and saying this:
"The billionaire has frustrated Republicans in recent days with the lack of discipline at his campaign appearances and may have again stepped on his message by talking about a tape rather than the wider issue of why the United States was sending millions of dollars to its longtime foe."
Well, if he hadn't said he'd seen the tape, the MSM could keep insisting he was delusional.
Obama on Iran payment: 'We do not pay ransom'
John Kerry is quoted in the article, insisting this was nothing to see and that the public knew about it all along, etc. The fact that CNN and others covered it 8 months after the transfer of funds led many to the conclusion the MSM successfully hid it up until Trump et. al. made it surface.
So I go back to the 2018 Presidential Memorandum and wonder if it is closing a legal loophole Obama created after-the-fact (shipment) to cover himself or is it going to result in a report to the public of unsavory/illegal details behind that shipment. Doesn't seem illegal (the transfer) in and of itself (no ransom paid is a policty) but it may be proven to reveal Obama providing aid and comfort to our enemies (it was neither old debt or ransom - just flat out financial support). Could we be heading toward Obama/Kerry exposure(s)?
It might be too devisive for Obozo to be exposed, but I think the country could comfortably handle the arrests of Kerry, Rice, Jarrett, Lynch, McCain, and Comey.