***Video***Blumenthal Presses Blanche on Reports Trump Administration Collaborated with Iranian Regime to Return Asylum Seekers

[WASHINGTON, DC] - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination of Todd Blanche to be U.S. Attorney General, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) pressed Blanche on allegations that the Trump Administration has provided the Islamic Republic of Iran with details of asylum applications Iranian nationals filed here in the United States.

"Last week, the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit alleging that the Trump Administration has adopted a policy of collaborating with the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide details about asylum applicants. This is the United States government providing information regularly and frequently to the Iranian government about Iranian nationals who are seeking asylum here in the United States. These are declarations made under oath before the court about high officials stationed here with Iran, getting information from the U.S. government," said Blumenthal.

Earlier today, the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund filed a motion asking for a stay and a preliminary injunction preventing the U.S. government from "sharing the confidential information of Iranian asylum seekers with the Iranian Government."

A lawsuit was filed last week on behalf of the family members of Iranians who were seeking asylum and protection from torture on the basis of their identities as Evangelical Christians, pro-democracy protestors, and members of the LGBTQ community, all of which are groups of people the Iranian regime seeks to persecute. According to the litigation and additional reporting, the Trump Administration shared the details of their asylum claims with the Iranian government, even allowing the Iranian government to hand-select which Iranians they wanted deported back to them.

Blanche denied that is the policy of the U.S. government, saying "we would never send somebody home to be tortured." Blanche eventually agreed, "if the lawsuit needs to be answered and part of that includes investigation, absolutely."

Text of Blumenthal's exchange with Blanche is copied below. Video of Blumenthal's remarks is available for download here.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT): I want to begin where maybe we have some common ground. You would agree that the Islamic Republic of Iran is well known to detain, torture and even kill political enemies, including Evangelical Christians, would you not?

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche: Yes, Senator, they have done that, yes.

Blumenthal: Last week, the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit alleging that the Trump Administration has adopted a policy of collaborating with the Islamic Republic of Iran to provide details about asylum applicants. This is the United States government providing information regularly and frequently to the Iranian government about Iranian nationals who are seeking asylum here in the United States. These are declarations made under oath before the court about high officials stationed here with Iran, getting information from the U.S. government.

And then, the American government deporting hundreds of individuals including Evangelical Christians back to Iran, where they face torture, imprisonment, potential death. Were you or the Department of Justice consulted about this policy?

Blanche: That's not our policy, Senator, we would never send somebody home to be tortured. That's not what the American people would expect of us. That's certainly not what President Trump does. So, I'm not familiar with the lawsuit you are talking about, but there is no such policy.

Blumenthal: Will you commit to investigate these allegations?

Blanche: I know nothing about the lawsuit. When you say commit to investigate allegations, we don't do that. But certainly, if the lawsuit needs to be answered and part of that includes investigation, absolutely.

Blumenthal: Well, you do investigate allegations of illegality. This policy would clearly be not only illegal…

Blanche: There is no such lawsuit.

Blumenthal: …but morally repugnant. Would it not? You agreed with me that it should not be the policy of the United States to do it.

Blanche: But in your question, you are suggesting there is such a policy. I'm telling you there is no such policy.

Blumenthal: Well, if there is no such policy, then I presume you would investigate it.

Blanche: When I see the lawsuit, I'm just not familiar with it, we will of course do what's appropriate.

Blumenthal: You would agree with me that that would be wrong?

Blanche: It would be wrong, meaning it would be wrong to send somebody home to be tortured, yes.

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