WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today called on the White House to give the American people answers on how much it cost taxpayers to convince the small island-nation of Palau to take Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) detainees.

 

“The American people deserve answers on the troubling report that the White House is using a $200 million-dollar pay off to Palau to free just a few GTMO detainees.  By my math that is roughly $12 million per detainee, that’s one expensive taxpayer funded dowry to free these detainees,” said Bond.

 

According to news reports Palau has agreed to accept 17 GTMO detainees in exchange for $200 million in American tax dollars.  The media is also reporting that Bermuda may be accepting detainees in exchange for a pay off. 

 

After hearing these troubling reports, Bond asked the Administration for the exact amount of the taxpayer funded pay-off to Bermuda or Palau and for the specific measures being put in place to ensure these detainees are monitored or don’t try to come into this country.  Unfortunately, Bond’s efforts to get responses to these questions have gone unanswered.  Also, Bond still has not received any response from the Administration to his May 1^st letter asking for details on the status of detainees. 

         

Bond also asked whether the Administration plans on giving other nations multi-million dollar payouts for all the remaining detainees at GTMO.  The Senator pointed out that with approximately 250 detainees remaining at GTMO that would be particularly pricey, especially considering the United States is in the midst of an economic crisis.

 

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