Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio is accusing the Obama administration of trying to "deceive" Congress and the American people about roughly $1.7 billion in payments to Iran -- suggesting at least some of the money was a "ransom" for American hostages and demanding official documents for the related transactions. At least some of the money was in foreign currency, and a video originating on Iranian TV purports to show bundles of the cash on pallets. “Iran has pocketed this money and continued to hold and take more American hostages,” Rubio also wrote. Christopher Backemeyer, a deputy assistant secretary of state, said Iran wanted immediate access to the money, but he said he wasn't aware whether Iran had asked for cash. He said it was his understanding that the money was going to "critical economic needs" in Iran.

Source: Fox News September 11, 2016 21:14 UTC