Press Releases

Today, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence who was briefed on the counterterrorism actions this week, released the following statement:

“I join with the President in offering my deepest condolences to the families of Warren Weinstein, an American held hostage by al Qaeda since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian captured the following year.  The loss of these two men, both of whom had devoted themselves to improving the lives of others around the world, is a terrible tragedy. The President was right to declassify information about the counterterrorism operations that inadvertently led to these deaths so that the families of those lost could be informed.  The public also has a right to know about actions taken on its behalf even – and sometimes especially – when those operations go wrong.

“The President has set a high standard for ensuring that counterterrorism operations do not result in civilian casualties, even as we fight those who deliberately target innocent people for kidnapping and death.  In this case, and despite extensive surveillance, the intelligence community was not aware that there were civilians being held hostage on the Al Qaeda compound.  In the weeks ahead, we will be examining this operation to make sure that the high standards that have been set were, in fact, met, and whether there are any other steps that can be taken to further reduce the risk of loss of innocent life.

“The Administration has also disclosed that two other American citizens were killed in counterterrorism operations conducted at or near the same time and place, although neither were specifically the target of the operations. Adam Gadahn, a California man who became a prominent spokesman and propagandist for Al Qaeda, and Ahmed Farouq, an American that Al Qaeda claims to have been the deputy emir for Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). These two men were significant figures in Al Qaeda and their loss is an important setback for the terrorist organization. ”

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