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PEORIA, IL— Congressman Darin LaHood released the following statement in response to the State Department’s comments confirming U.S. exchanged $400 million cash payment for the release of American prisoners:

“The Obama Administration has admitted that it used $400 million as “leverage” to secure the freedom of unjustly imprisoned Americans in Iran—explicitly exchanging unmarked cash for the release of hostages and, in effect, breaking U.S protocol prohibiting ransoms. America doesn’t negotiate—we win. This action, and the deception of the American people, sets a dangerous precedent, and further weakens U.S. foreign policy during the implementation of the Iran Nuclear Deal, which continues to threaten national security.”