Press "Enter" to skip to content

John Brunner Releases Statement on Terrorist Detainee Transfers from Guantanamo Bay Prison

Reiterates Opposition to Obama-Greitens Plan to Close Prison

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – John Brunner today released a statement following Wednesday’s news reports stating detainee transfers from Guantanamo Bay prison have resulted in the deaths of Americans, which followed in the immediate aftermath of this week’s terrorist attacks in Belgium: 

The news from the Defense Department yesterday in a direct testimony by a Pentagon official yesterday is shocking. Today I am reiterating my support to keep the terrorist detention center open at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The face of evil reared its ugly head again this week, claiming innocent lives in Brussels, Belgium. We are in a battle against an extreme ideology in ISIS whose followers are ready and willing to take everything from us if we are not vigilant. This is about keeping our homeland safe. As Governor I pledge to fight and ensure potential terrorists posing as refugees will not be relocated to Missouri, and I will fight the President’s plan to relocate any of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay to Ft. Leavenworth, KS – the Department of Defense’s only maximum security prison located a mile and a half from Missouri’s border. 

Unfortunately, one candidate for governor, Eric Greitens, has refused to clarify any real difference from President Obama on this important issue, originally stating as college professor: “Closing the prison at Guantanamo Bay is a complex and difficult challenge, but also a necessary step.” 

Let me be clear: Missouri needs a governor to stand firm on national security. Closing this facility is unacceptable. We cannot place our families and communities at risk by transporting the most dangerous terrorists to facilities within the borders of the US where they can radicalize other terrorists. I remain unyielding in my commitment of my oath as a U.S. Marine, to defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. And I pledge today to continue upholding this oath as Governor of Missouri.

According to reports 91 detainees still remain at Guantanamo with 36 of them cleared for transfer.  

The suicide bombers who targeted Brussels had links to the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, while one of the bombers was a known militant deported from Turkey to Europe.