Vulnerable Dem Senator Facing Reelection Battle Calls for $6 Billion in Iranian Funds to Be Frozen

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., is calling for $6 billion made available to Iran through a prisoner swap with the United States to be frozen in light of allegations about the country's role in Hamas' attacks on Israel over the weekend.

There has been no direct link made between Iran and the attacks, but a Wall Street Journal report, citing top Hamas officials, suggested Iran was helping in the planning of the brutal attacks on civilians for weeks.

"Until I have full confidence that Iran did not play a role in these barbaric terrorist attacks on the Israeli people, the United States should freeze the $6 billion dollars in Iranian assets," Baldwin wrote in a Wednesday statement.

Baldwin's comments follow two more Senate Democrats making the same call. All three are up for reelection as Democrats are fighting to maintain the Senate majority.

Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., both called for freezing the Iranian assets following the Hamas attack. Tester is facing a challenging election, and Manchin has yet to announce his plans.

More than a dozen Senate Republicans have also called for the freezing of the Iranian funds.

U.S. defense officials have insisted the money, which was unfrozen in a prisoner swap, is monitored and none has been spent. They have said it can only be used for humanitarian purposes, but critics argue the availability of those funds could have empowered spending other funds.