McGinty criticizes ransoms, but not US’ payment to Iran

Katie McGinty, Pennsylvania’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, says the United States should never pay ransoms for prisoners, but she’s not criticizing the Obama administration’s $400 million cash delivery to Iran seven months ago.

McGinty said Friday that she expects “further facts” will come out about the payment and she still stands by President Barack Obama’s nuclear accord with Iran. Republican incumbent Pat Toomey opposes the Iran nuclear deal and has been critical of the payment to Iran.

Republican lawmakers are calling the payment a ransom that puts the nation and its allies at risk. The Obama administration says the payment was contingent on the release of American prisoners, but contends the payment wasn’t ransom because the Islamic Republic would have soon recouped the money it was owed.