Pelosi Spokesman Statement on Speaker Ryan’s Taxpayer-Funded Legal Efforts to Prevent President Obama from Closing Guantanamo
February 24, 2016
Washington, D.C. – Drew Hammill, spokesman for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, released the following statement on Speaker Paul Ryan's taxpayer-funded plan to hire expensive Washington lawyers to attempt to prevent the President from responsibly closing Guantanamo in furtherance of our national security and values:
"During their time in the Majority, the House Republican leadership has spent nearly $3 million on taxpayer-funded Washington lawyers to advance agenda items they cannot achieve through regular order. This stunning abuse of taxpayer funds has had no oversight or transparency.
"Yesterday, President Obama announced the Administration's plan for responsibly closing the facility at Guantanamo once and for all, which could save at least $335 million over 10 years while strengthening our national security and affirming our values and laws.
"Republicans must stop playing politics with our national security and stop awarding no-bid, taxpayer-funded contracts to politically-connected Washington lawyers to the tune of hundreds of dollars an hour."