Sen. Rand Paul: ‘We’ve Heard Contradictory Information’ on Soleimani Airstrike

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) elaborated on his comments to reporters earlier this week following a briefing by Trump administration officials on the airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

Paul had joined Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) at a Wednesday press conference following the briefing, which he called “less than satisfying,” announcing he too would support a resolution reining in President Trump’s military authority.

“I think we’ve heard contradictory information … from the Secretary of State, that they don’t know where or when, but it was imminent,” Paul said Sunday on Meet the Press regarding an attack by Iran on U.S. forces in the region. “That, to me, does seem inconsistent.”

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday said he “didn’t see” specific evidence of imminent attacks on four U.S. embassies, contradicting the Trump administration’s claim.

“There is a bigger question though — and this is what really infuriated me about the briefing — is they maintain both in private and in public that a vote by Congress in 2003 or 2002 to go after Saddam Hussain was a vote that allows them to still be in Iraq and do whatever they want, including killing a foreign general from Iran,” Paul continued. “I don’t think that’s what Congress meant in 2002, nor do I think one generation can bind another generation.”

Congress, he maintains, must re-assert its authority in this area, which he said had been diminished over several generations dating back to the Korean War.

Watch the video above, via NBC.