WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, after securing assurances from the Obama Administration that it will submit to Congress a plan for closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) opposed legislation in the Senate Armed Services Committee that would strictly prohibit the President from closing the facility in the next two years. Senator King released the following statement:

“I believe that, on balance, closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility is in our national security interests. It’s not only a heavy burden on the American taxpayers, but it also provides a propaganda tool for terrorist organizations and complicates relations with some of our important allies and partners. However, let me be perfectly clear: my vote today should not be mistaken for an endorsement of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility without a plan for steps necessary after closure.

“In fact, my vote was contingent on assurances from the White House that a well-defined and executable plan for what they intend to do with the detainees, along with a plan for what they will do with future high value detainees, would be provided to Congress before the bill comes to the floor.

“My decision on final passage will be based on an assessment of that proposal. I need to know – and the American people need to know – that a plan is in place to close this facility in a manner consistent with U.S and international law, and consistent with our national security interests.”

In November 2014, Senator King visited Guantanamo Bay on a fact-finding oversight trip to review detainee facilities and detention operations, the legal status of individual detainees, and the military commissions process that is used to try select detainees.

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