Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353

Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement on the State Department's confirmation that the $400 million payment to Iran was contingent on the release of four prisoners:

"The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ransom as ‘money that is paid in order to free someone who has been captured or kidnapped'. President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and the rest of the Obama administration ought to write that definition down and consult it the next time they broker the release of hostages from our enemies so they don't have to spend so long explaining themselves afterwards. I dearly hope there is not a next time. But the president has greatly exacerbated the chance that there will be. Terrorists and our other enemies around the world now know that President Obama pays ransom for hostages."