The FBI Helped Facilitate A Failed 2012 Ransom Payment To al Qaeda For The Family Of Kidnapped Aid Worker Warren Weinstein

Warren Weinstein was accidentally killed in January by a US drone targeting al-Qaida militants. Photograph: Reuters

Wall Street Journal: FBI Helped Facilitate Ransom for U.S. Hostage Killed in Drone Strike

Agency helped U.S. hostage Warren Weinstein’s family assess whether it should pay Pakistani middleman for his release.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation helped facilitate a 2012 ransom payment to al Qaeda from the family of kidnapped aid worker Warren Weinstein, senior U.S. officials said, in an unsuccessful bid to secure the release of the American, who was killed in January in a U.S. drone strike.

The FBI’s previously undisclosed role reveals a contradiction in the U.S.’s longstanding position against paying ransoms for hostages. While the White House sharply criticizes the practice in public and private, new details about the Weinstein case show how the FBI provides some families with guidance towards that end.

In the Weinstein case, the FBI vetted a Pakistani middleman used by the family to transport the money and provided other intelligence to enable an exchange, actions that some senior U.S. officials said encouraged the family to go ahead with the transaction.

Update #1: FBI 'helped US hostage's make ransom payment to al-Qaeda' -- The Telegraph
Update #2: FBI helped in failed ransom attempt of US man killed by drone strike – report -- the Guardian
Update #3: U.S. FBI facilitated ransom payment from hostage Weinstein's family -WSJ -- Reuters

WNU Editor: It appears that everyone approached this ransom with the best intentions .... everyone that is with the exception of the kidnappers.

White House Considering Major Changes In U.S. Ransom Policy For Hostages Overseas

ABC News: Potential Shift in Hostage Policy: Officials to Recommend Families Be Free to Pay Ransom

Families of American hostages who communicate with foreign kidnappers or raise money and pay ransoms will no longer have to fear prosecution for aiding terrorist groups, a White House-ordered advisory group on U.S. hostage policy is expected to recommend, senior officials told ABC News last week.

"There will be absolutely zero chance of any family member of an American held hostage overseas ever facing jail themselves, or even the threat of prosecution, for trying to free their loved ones," said one of three senior officials familiar with the hostage policy team's ongoing review.

More News On The White House Considering Major Changes In U.S. Ransom Policy For Hostages Overseas

Official: White House Likely to Create Hostage Family Engagement Team -- ABC News
U.S. mulls ransom policy for families of overseas hostages: ABC TV -- Reuters
Report: US Considering Major Change in Ransom Policy for Hostages -- VOA
Report: Officials to recommend families be free to pay ransom to terrorists -- The Hill
White House to stop prosecution of families who pay terror ransoms, report claims -- Daily Mail
New Policy Will Reportedly Allow Families of U.S. Hostages to Pay Ransom -- Slate