Montel Williams accused President Obama’s recently proposed policy change on how the government will handle U.S. hostage situations abroad as nothing more than a political stunt to give the administration cover when American detainees are not released as a condition of a nuclear deal with Iran.
"I think it's like a bait-and-switch, a canard, a hoodwink, here," Williams said Wednesday. "There is nothing really changing."
Williams said his team read over the proposal multiple times and could not find what difference it would make for the hostages still in Iran.
"I don't really believe there's been any change in policy. I think this was done so that come the 30th, when the four others aren't released, there is something of an excuse for this administration to fall back on," he said.
Williams has been a major advocate for the release of Amir Hekmati, a U.S. Marine who was arrested in Iran on January 9, 2012 for allegations of spying on behalf of the CIA. Hekmati and the U.S. government have adamantly denied the allegations from Tehran.
MSNBC host Jose Diaz-Balart mentioned the U.S. negotiated on behalf of Alan Gross to bring him back. During that time, the U.S. was engaged in negotiations to open up relations with the Cuban government.
"You can call it a quid pro quo or not, but he was released," Díaz-Balart said. "Why is it this gentleman and others that are being held and nothing seems to be putting pressure on the government to do something about it?"
In another example of U.S. negotiations for the release of a held hostage, the Obama administration released five members of the Taliban, known terrorists being held in Guantanamo Bay, in exchange for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Shortly after, it was revealed the administration knew Bergdahl deserted his post prior to his capture. The White House refuted the notion it broke its own rule of not negotiating with terrorists, even though the Taliban Five will be completely free within the year.
Williams will be traveling abroad for a week to raise attention with European media and seek support from European governments on behalf of Hekmati.
"We have to reach outside the U.S. government to get other governments to see if they can help us release an American marine, which to me I think is absolutely ridiculous," Williams said.
The TV personality made a final appeal for help.
"If your viewers can, go to giveforward.com/freeamir," he said. "Help this family bring home a Marine that our government should be bringing home."