Udall Statement on Seeing bin Laden Photos

Mark Udall

Today, Mark Udall, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, released the following statement after viewing the classified photos of Osama bin Laden. The photos were made available to certain members of the House and Senate after Udall called for the White House to allow Intelligence Committee members to see them.

“It was important for the administration to make the photos of bin Laden available to members of the legislative committees overseeing the intelligence agencies, and I want to thank the President for acting quickly on my request. This was not something I looked forward to. But I believe that by ensuring that two branches of the United States government have access to the photos, we have eliminated the potential that anyone could ever question – now or in the future – whether this terrorist has been brought to justice.

“After seeing the photos, I still agree with the President’s decision not to make them public. Bin Laden’s body is not a trophy, and such a move could inflame jihadists and put our nation and our allies at risk.”