Hudson Votes to Keep Terrorists at Gitmo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5351, a bill based on his legislation to prohibit the administration from transferring any detainees out of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay:

The House passed H.R. 5351 to prohibit the Defense Department from transferring or releasing any detainee from Gitmo into the United States, its territories or possessions, or to any foreign country or entity. The blanket prohibition would end on January 1, 2017, or earlier once the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2017—which could include Rep. Hudson’s language restricting the release or transfer of Gitmo prisoners—is enacted.

Rep. Hudson’s amendment—which would be the strictest prohibition of transfers yet—was adopted by voice vote in June to the House-passed defense spending bill. The Senate has yet to pass a defense spending bill. To watch Rep. Hudson’s remarks in support of his amendment, or read the transcripts, click here.

According to reports, two more militants released from Gitmo have returned to fighting, the U.S. government said on Wednesday. Last month, the Obama Administration transferred 15 prisoners to the United Arab Emirates - the largest single transfer of detainees since President Obama took office. In March, a senior Pentagon official told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that former Guantanamo inmates are responsible for the deaths of Americans overseas. According to the Washington Post, the Obama administration admitted at least 12 detainees released from the prison have launched attacks, killing about a half-dozen Americans.