Former State Senator Staci Appel, the Democratic candidate in Iowaâs 3rd Congressional District race, not only holds a âdangerous and ignorantâ position on American terrorist passports, but it is one that is at odds with the Obama administration.
Today when Jeh Johnson, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, testified before the House Committee on Homeland Security he said that Western passports in the hands of Islamic terrorists remain a significant threat to the security of the United States.
But Staci Appel, if elected, said she wouldnât urge the State Department to take away passports from known American terrorists. Â Even those who have admitted involvement with ISIS.
Listen to Johnsonâs response to Congressman Peter King (R-NY).
“I agree with the FBI Director [James Comey] that suspension of passports should be on a case by case basis. The State Department has the authority to suspend passports. I also know that suspension, revocation of passports can be done on an expedited basis when the situation warrants in a matter of hours or days. It does not necessarily need to be a lengthy process. I agree given the current environment that we need to seriously consider limiting the ability of certain individuals to travel. Either to go from one foreign country to another or from our country to another country.”
“Protecting America from the threats of ISIS should be a top priority of our government. In Congress, I will push the administration to use every tool available to keep Iowa families safe,” said David Young, Republican candidate in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District race. “One of those tools is revoking the passports of self-proclaimed terrorists. I said in a debate last week I absolutely support revoking these passports. I sat in shock when my opponent disagreed and said she would not. The secretary of Homeland Security and Director of the FBI today agreed with me leaving my opponent alone on a limb with respect to this issue.”