W.H. Insists: We Don’t Make ‘Concessions’ to Terrorists

NN REPORTER: "The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the FBI facilitated ransom payment to al Qaeda by Warren Weinstein's family, and I am wondering how that fits with the U.S. policy?"

EARNEST: "I haven't seen the story that you are talking about ... All I say is we will look into this for you little bit further. It sounds like maybe you should have a conversation with the FBI about it too if they are so prominently featured in the story. But I will tell you that the policy that's been in place throughout the six years of the Obama administration and that was in place during the previous administration as well is one that continues to be in place right now and that is specifically that the United States government will not make concessions to terrorists. To do so it would only put American citizens at a greater risk and would serve to allow terrorist organizations to better finance their ongoing [indecipherable]."

NN REPORTER: "I know we have been over this before but are you drawing distinction between the U.S. government and U.S. families of people held hostage?"

EARNEST: "Well, obviously these are two different things but there are relevant laws that apply to both. But our policy on this hasn't changed."