Washington, DC – Today, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) made the following statement about the Guantanamo Bay detention facility:

“I am strongly opposed to President Trump’s efforts to keep the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay open, as well as any suggestion that new detainees could be placed there. We must end the use of Guantanamo for detention purposes. I have long fought for a responsible closure of the facility and I will continue to do so until that goal is accomplished.

“The creation of a detention facility at Guantanamo was misguided from the beginning, and its operation stands in stark contrast to our nation’s values. Today, Guantanamo continues to be an international eyesore that undercuts our national security, damages our credibility with our international partners, and is a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars. It is past time to close it down, and President Trump’s actions are taking us in the wrong direction.”

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