Representative Mike Ezell

Dear [salutation],

This last week has been incredibly tough. Like you, I'm heartbroken and angered by the war Iran-backed Hamas terrorists have waged on Israel and the reactions of some around the world.

We've seen Hamas murder, rape, and kidnap civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. Several Americans in Israel have been the victims of these horrendous attacks.

While most Americans and others around the world have reacted with the same feelings as you and I, others have openly praised the terrorists and their violence. Even some of my colleagues in Congress have been hesitant to fully condemn Hamas and are spreading antisemitic talking points.

It's incredibly disturbing, and these views have no place in Congress, in America, or anywhere in the world. I'll always stand with our allies in Israel and against antisemitism.

America must stand strong in support for Israel, oppose Hamas, and shut down terrorist funding around the world. Here's what's going on:

Weakness on the World Stage

When President Biden took office in January of 2021, his administration immediately undid Trump-era policies and began funneling money to Hamas controlled areas. State Department emails and other documents show the Biden Administration KNEW this money would likely make its way into the hands of terrorists; they just didn’t care.

Eight months later, the Biden Administration demonstrated tremendous weakness in their failed Afghanistan withdrawal. Thirteen Americans were killed by an ISIS-K suicide bomber — more than the total number of American troops killed in Afghanistan during the previous year. Terrorists and bad actors across the Middle East were emboldened, while the morale of our troops and our allies was shaken.

To be clear, Joe Biden's foreign policy failures are not directly responsible for these horrific attacks.

But when America displays this kind of weakness and empowers officials who want to negotiate with (or even befriend) terrorists, it creates an atmosphere that emboldens bad actors and encourages acts of terror.

Taking Back Iran's $6 Billion Bounty

In September of this year, on the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, the Biden Administration announced its plans to give Iran $6 billion in previously frozen funds as part of a prisoner swap.

The Biden Administration claimed the money could only be used for humanitarian aid, but Iran's president publicly disagreed.

The Obama-Biden Iran policy has done nothing to make the Middle East safer. Those two administrations have given Iran billions of dollars and helped advance their nuclear program. They even allowed Iranian spies to direct our policy towards Tehran.

What have we gotten in return for these gifts?

Iran is the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism, sending hundreds of millions each year to terror groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. The Iranian government is actively attempting to build a nuclear bomb and regularly calls for "Death to America."

I criticized the $6 billion deal when it happened because it gives our enemies more incentive to hold Americans hostage.

Now that Iran-funded Hamas is waging war against Israel, my colleagues and I have once again called on the Biden Administration to re-freeze these funds and start enforcing American sanctions on the Iranian regime.

Yesterday, the State Department agreed to re-freeze the funds.

This shouldn't be controversial. The United States should not be funding the groups attacking our allies and plotting our demise.

America must hold terrorist-funders like Iran accountable, not cozy up to them. I'll continue to demand that the Biden Administration moves away from their appeasement strategy and treats Iran like the aggressor we know them to be.

The Wrong Reaction

After Hamas began their attacks in the early morning of October 7, 2023, the Biden Administration's first reaction was to call on BOTH Israel and Hamas to stand down.

That's right: as Israeli civilians were being murdered, raped, and kidnapped, the Biden Administration demanded Israel refrain from retaliating.

Biden Administration First Response to Hamas Attacks on Israel

The State Department deleted this tweet after Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) condemned it, but the point remains — their first instinct was to blame Israel and Hamas equally.

In total, the Biden Administration's response to this war so far has been a mixed bag at best.

The president delivered strong remarks in support of Israel on Tuesday, but was largely silent for the first several days of this war.

He met with the families of American citizens who went missing in Israel today, but met with the victims of so-called "junk fees" first.

In this time of crisis, our nation and our world need a unified, strong America. If President Biden and Democrats are willing to work with Republicans to support Israel and take on terrorists and terrorist-funders, I'll gladly work with them towards those goals. I hope and pray that's what happens over the next several weeks and months.

With the crisis in the Middle East, as well as the chaos at our southern border and other serious problems facing our nation, America needs leadership.

That's why I'm staying in Washington to work even as many of my colleagues go home for the weekend:

I said it last week and I'll say it again: House Republicans must come together to put a nominee on the floor and elect a Speaker of the House once and for all.

It's my honor to serve you in Congress. In the midst of all this chaos, my office and I are still working for you. If you need help with a federal agency, please visit my website or contact one of the offices below.

Sincerely,

Mike Ezell
Member of Congress

Weakness on the World Stage

Taking Back Iran's $6 Billion Bounty

The Wrong Reaction

Office Locations