Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353

Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement on reports that 12 detainees released from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have launched attacks against the United States or allied forces in Afghanistan:

"The detainees at Guantanamo Bay are hardened terrorists who will stop at nothing to attack the United States. Their recidivism isn't related to their time at Guantanamo Bay, it's related to their fundamental opposition to our fundamental belief in freedom. And yesterday's report in the Washington Post is just more reason that Americans deserve to know the history of any terrorist who leaves Guantanamo Bay. That's why the Senate should pass the amendment Senator Perdue and I offered to the National Defense Authorization Act requiring a complete declassification review of the intelligence of the past terrorist activities of detainees eligible for transfer. Six Americans would still be alive today if those terrorists had stayed at Guantanamo Bay. Their deaths should not be in vain. We not should not only keep Guantanamo Bay open, but also send more terrorists there for interrogation."