Niagara Leader

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemning the Biden administration's decision to express condolences for the passing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. The letter was co-signed by Representatives Mike Bost (R-IL), Carol Miller (R-WV), Pete Stauber (R-MN), John Rose (R-TN), Randy Weber (R-TX), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Don Bacon (R-NE), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), and John Rutherford (R-FL).

President Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024, was known as the "Butcher of Tehran" for his treatment of the Iranian people. He was designated as a terrorist by the U.S. and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department. Since the 1980s, Raisi had been involved in imprisoning, torturing, and killing thousands of anti-regime Iranians. His actions included supporting the crackdown on protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman killed for not complying with Iran’s dress code.

Tenney's letter follows a statement from the State Department offering condolences for Raisi's death. She demanded an explanation from the State Department by June 5, 2024.

“Biden’s State Department expressing condolences for the death of a murderer is unjustifiable,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “The Butcher of Tehran persecuted and brutally murdered thousands of his own people, silencing any Iranians who dared to speak out against the regime. Undoubtedly, Iran and the world are better off without this terrorist, raising serious concerns about why the Biden administration would offer any sympathies for his death. The Biden Administration must answer for why they mourn the death of this terrorist, an enemy of America and the Iranian people.”

Complete text of the letter can be found here.