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Att’y General Loretta Lynch Pleads The 5th When Asked Questions About Obama’s Iran Ransom Payment

Attorney General Loretta Lynch is declining to comply with an investigation by Congress about the Obama administration’s secret Iran ransom payment.

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9 years ago

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Attorney General Loretta Lynch is declining to comply with an investigation by leading members of Congress about the Obama administration’s secret efforts to send Iran $1.7 billion in cash earlier this year, prompting accusations that Lynch has “pleaded the Fifth” Amendment to avoid incriminating herself over these payments

Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R., Kan.) initially presented Lynch in October with a series of questions about how the cash payment to Iran was approved and delivered.

In an Oct. 24 response, Assistant Attorney General Peter Kadzik responded on Lynch’s behalf, refusing to answer the questions and informing the lawmakers that they are barred from publicly disclosing any details about the cash payment, which was bound up in a ransom deal aimed at freeing several American hostages from Iran.

Loretta Lynch Pleads the Fifth To Protect Obama In Iran $1.7 Billion Hostage Money

The response from the attorney general’s office is “unacceptable” and provides evidence that Lynch has chosen to “essentially plead the fifth and refuse to respond to inquiries regarding [her] role in providing cash to the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism,” Rubio and Pompeo wrote on Friday in a follow-up letter to Lynch, according to a copy obtained by the Free Beacon.

The inquiry launched by the lawmakers is just one of several concurrent ongoing congressional probes aimed at unearthing a full accounting of the administration’s secret negotiations with Iran.

“It is frankly unacceptable that your department refuses to answer straightforward questions from the people’s elected representatives in Congress about an important national security issue,” the lawmakers wrote. “Your staff failed to address any of our questions, and instead provided a copy of public testimony and a lecture about the sensitivity of information associated with this issue.”

Obama on Iran payment: ‘We do not pay ransom’

“As the United States’ chief law enforcement officer, it is outrageous that you would essentially plead the fifth and refuse to respond to inquiries,” they stated. “The actions of your department come at time when Iran continues to hold Americans hostage and unjustly sentence them to prison.”

The lawmakers included a copy of their previous 13 questions and are requesting that Lynch provide answers by Nov. 4.

When asked about Lynch’s efforts to avoid answering questions about the cash payment, Pompeo told the Free Beacon that the Obama administration has blocked Congress at every turn as lawmakers attempt to investigate the payments to Iran.

“Who knew that simple questions regarding Attorney General Lynch’s approval of billions of dollars in payments to Iran could be so controversial that she would refuse to answer them?” Pompeo said. “This has become the Obama administration’s coping mechanism for anything related to the Islamic Republic of Iran—hide information, obfuscate details, and deny answers to Congress and the American people.”

Obama Administration Finally Admits $400M To Iran Was Ransom For Hostages

“They know this isn’t a sustainable strategy, however, and I trust they will start to take their professional, and moral, obligations seriously,” the lawmaker added.

In the Oct. 24 letter to Rubio and Pompeo, Assistant Attorney General Kadzik warned the lawmakers against disclosing to the public any information about the cash payment.

Details about the deal are unclassified, but are being kept under lock and key in a secure facility on Capitol Hill, the Free Beacon first disclosed. Lawmakers and staffers who have clearance to view the documents are forced to relinquish their cellular devices and are barred from taking any notes about what they see.

“Please note that these documents contain sensitive information that is not appropriate for public release,” Kadzik wrote to the lawmakers. “Disclosure of this information beyond members of the House and Senate and staff who are able to view them could adversely affect the diplomatic relations of the United States, including with key allies, as well as the State Department’s ability to defend [legal] claims against the United States [by Iran] that are still being litigated at the Hague Tribunal.”

“The public release of any portion of these documents, or the information contained therein, is not authorized by the transmittal of these documents or by this communication,” Kadzik wrote.

Congressional sources have told the Free Beacon that this is another part of the effort to hide details about these secret negotiations with Iran from the American public.

One senior congressional source familiar with both the secret documents and the inquiry into them told the Free Beacon that the details of the negotiations are so damning that the administration’s best strategy is to ignore lawmakers’ requests for more information.

“Every Obama administration official and department involved in the Iran Deal appear to be running for cover,” the source said. “Like we feared, the Iran deal is turning out to be a disaster and Iran is emboldened in its aggression. Evidently Attorney General Lynch and the Department of Justice have decided ‘refusal to cooperate’ is their best strategy. But this is dangerous and ultimately won’t protect them from anything.” source

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As Iran Tensions Explode, USS Tripoli Strike Group With A Full Marine Expeditionary Unit Arriving To Reinforce 50,000 U.S. Troops Already Deployed In Region

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11 hours ago

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March 24, 2026

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Strait Of Hormuz Becomes Flashpoint As USS Tripoli And Combat Marines Enter Region Backed By Tens Of Thousands Of U.S. Forces

The USS Tripoli is not a symbol. It is not a diplomatic gesture. It is a fully operational, forward-deployed invasion platform. A Marine Expeditionary Unit is specifically designed for one thing: to hit fast, hit hard, and establish a foothold before the enemy can react. On Friday it will arrive to reopen the Strait of Hormuz replete with 2,200 US Marines who will be joining the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit of 2,500 Marines that’s due to arrive mid-April. And you think this war is winding down? Guess again.

“Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.” Joshua 11:18 (KJB)

The Strait of Hormuz is the economic jugular vein of the planet, where a massive portion of the world’s oil supply flows every single day. Whoever controls that chokepoint holds leverage over global markets, economies, and stability itself. Right now, Iran has their fingers on the controls, something that President Donald Trump would love dearly to see come to a sooner rather than later end. The USS Tripoli is not just a ship, it is a floating strike platform, a fully armed and operational war machine positioned at sea. On board are F-35B stealth fighter jets, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, attack and transport helicopters, and ground combat Marines trained and ready for amphibious assault. This is not a slow, piecemeal military buildup taking shape over time; this is a complete, self-contained invasion force, already assembled and capable of launching operations the very moment the order is given. And it doesn’t stand alone. Moving with it is the USS New Orleans, an amphibious transport dock, carrying roughly 2,200 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Together, this is Day One war capability — not theoretical, not preparatory, but active and deployed. Everything needed for immediate combat operations is already in place, already in position, and ready to be unleashed.

Please pray for our amazing US Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen as they get ready to, hopefully, take control of the Strait of Hormuz and bring this war to an end. Semper Fi.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

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But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

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Did Trump’s 2025 Saudi Visit Lay The Groundwork For Iran War? Mohammed Bin Salman Sees Iran Conflict As An ‘Historic Opportunity’ To Remake Middle East

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12 hours ago

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March 24, 2026

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Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees a ‘historic opportunity’ to remake the region through Donald Trump’s war with Iran, according to people briefed by U.S. officials on the conversations.

The latest reporting paints a striking picture: Mohammed bin Salman privately urging Donald Trump to continue a war with Iran, describing the conflict not as a crisis to contain, but as a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East. That phrase alone should give pause. History is filled with leaders who believed they stood at the threshold of reshaping the region, but few did so without unleashing major consequences far beyond their control. Do you remember Trump’s May of 2025 magnum opus meeting they called ‘MAGA In The Desert’? Let me remind you.

“Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.” 2 Chronicles 9:14 (KJB)

What we are witnessing right now in the Middle East did not begin with missiles flying over Tehran or oil tankers sitting idle in the Strait of Hormuz. This moment was set in motion long before the first shot was fired, when Donald Trump stepped onto Saudi soil and locked in one of the largest economic and military partnerships in modern history. That visit was billed as dealmaking, and yes, the numbers were staggering, with agreements ranging from $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion in investments, defense systems, and strategic cooperation, but the real story was not the money. The real story was the alignment. That Saudi trip cemented a powerful alliance between Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, tying the United States and Saudi Arabia together through weapons deals, economic dependency, and shared regional objectives. Massive defense agreements, including advanced aircraft and hundreds of tanks, were not merely symbolic gestures, they were the building blocks of a military capability and deterrence alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia.

Fast forward to today, and the region is engulfed in war. The United States and its allies are engaged in a full-scale conflict with Iran, striking thousands of targets while Tehran retaliates across the region, sending shockwaves through global energy markets and threatening to choke off the world’s oil supply. The war has already escalated into a multi-front confrontation involving Israel, proxy militias, and global powers scrambling to prevent total collapse of stability in the Middle East. This is no limited engagement—this is the kind of conflict that reshapes maps. And now comes the revelation that pulls the curtain back just a little further. According to reports based on briefings from U.S. officials, Mohammed bin Salman is urging Trump to stay the course, viewing the war with Iran as a “historic opportunity” to reshape the region in Saudi Arabia’s favor. That statement, if true, should stop you cold. Because it connects the dots between what was built in Saudi Arabia last year and what is unfolding right now on the battlefield. Are we fighting this war for Israel, for Mohammed bin Salman, for who then?

This is where the question becomes unavoidable. Did Trump’s Saudi visit lay the groundwork for what we are now seeing? No one is going to come out and say that openly, and Saudi officials publicly deny pushing for escalation. But the sequence of events speaks loudly. First came the alliance. Then came the investment. Then came the weapons. And now comes the war. So no, this is not just about contracts signed in Riyadh, and it is not just about bombs falling on Iran. This is about timing. It is about alliances forged in peace being leveraged in war. And it is about a Middle East that is rapidly being reshaped before our eyes, exactly as Scripture said it would be.

Saudi Prince Is Said to Push Trump to Continue Iran War in Recent Calls

FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES: Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been pushing President Trump to continue the war against Iran, arguing that the U.S.-Israeli military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East, according to people briefed by American officials on the conversations.

In a series of conversations over the last week, Prince Mohammed has conveyed to Mr. Trump that he must press toward the destruction of Iran’s hard-line government, the people familiar with the conversations said. Prince Mohammed, the people familiar with the discussions said, has argued that Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf that can only be eliminated by getting rid of the government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel also views Iran as a long-term threat, but analysts say Israeli officials would probably view a failed Iranian state that is too caught up in internal turmoil to menace Israel as a win, while Saudi Arabia views a failed state in Iran as a grave and direct security threat. But senior officials in both the Saudi and American governments worry that if the conflict drags on, Iran could deliver ever more punishing attacks on Saudi oil installations and the United States could be stuck in an endless war.

Prince Mohammed, an authoritarian royal who has led a sustained crackdown on dissent, is respected by Mr. Trump and has previously influenced the president’s decision-making. Prince Mohammed has argued that the United States should consider putting troops in Iran to seize energy infrastructure and force the government out of power, according to the people briefed by U.S. officials.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the administration “does not comment on the president’s private conversations.” READ MORE

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

When you contribute to this fundraising effort, you are helping us to do what the Lord called us to do. The money you send in goes primarily to the overall daily operations of this site. When people ask for Bibles, we send them out at no charge. When people write in and say how much they would like gospel tracts but cannot afford them, we send them a box at no cost to them for either the tracts or the shipping, no matter where they are in the world. We have a Gospel Billboard program. We are now broadcasting Bible studies, Podcasts and a Sunday Service 5 times a week, thanks to your generous donations. All this is possible because YOU pray for us, YOU support us, and YOU give so we can continue growing.

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But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

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Donald Trump

THE PROPHECY NEWS PODCAST: President Trump May Be Looking For The Exit Ramp As He Cancels His Own 48-Hour Deadline For Iran To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz

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2 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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TACO Trump Always Chickens Out? Iran Ultimatum Deadline Comes And Goes With No Action As Strait Of Hormuz Crisis Continues In Iran

For days now, the rhetoric coming out of Washington had all the markings of escalation. President Donald Trump issued a hard 48-hour ultimatum to Iran: reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating U.S. strikes on critical infrastructure. The language was not vague. It was direct, forceful, and absolute. And now? That deadline has come and gone and has quietly turned into a 5-day deadline with the White House desperately trying to sell it as a win which it absolutely is not. It is hesitation, uncertainty, and sadly, weakness. TACO Trump is back with a vengeance.

“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8 (KJB)

On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, instead of action, Trump extended the timeline, paused military strikes, and began talking about “productive conversations.” That’s not follow-through—that’s a pivot. And not a subtle one. Let’s say it plainly: this is exactly why critics have begun branding him “TACO Trump” — Trump Always Chickens Out. On multiple podcasts, I have already stated clearly that this war was not going in Trump’s favor. The early signs were there for anyone willing to look—Iran was not backing down, regional tensions were spreading, global economic pressure was mounting, and the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical chokepoints on earth, remained under constant threat. I said then that Trump looked like he was in over his head, and what we’re seeing now only reinforces that assessment. This is not a controlled situation. This is not a clean show of strength. This is a leader who issued a red line and is now stepping away from it under pressure. You can be absolutely certain of this: Tehran is not interpreting this as diplomacy. They are interpreting it as hesitation. In the Middle East, hesitation is not neutral—it is weakness. When the United States threatens “obliteration” and then delays action, adversaries recalibrate. They test further. They push harder. And that increases the chances of a much larger conflict down the road. The news is changing by the minute, and we bring it all to you today!

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But whatever you do, don’t do nothing. Time is short and we need your help right now. The Lord has given us an open door with a tremendous ‘course’ for us to fulfill that will create an excellent experience at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Please pray for our efforts, and if the Lord leads you to donate, be as generous as possible. The war is REAL, the battle HOT and the time is SHORT…TO THE FIGHT!!!

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“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

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