Obama OKs New Rules for Payment of Ransom; Allows Families to Pay for Kidnapped Relatives

President Obama unveiled new rules today (June 24, 2015) that will allow families to offer private ransom payments for relatives kidnapped overseas, according to the USA Today website.

While the federal government will continue to refuse to make ransom payments to terrorists and others, Obama and other officials said families will no longer be threatened with prosecution if they seek to do so privately.

"I'm making it clear that these families are to be treated like what they are -- our trusted partners and active partners in the recovery of their loved ones," Obama said in announcing the changes from the White House.

All too often, the families of hostages -- some of whom have died in captivity -- have been treated like "afterthoughts" or bullied by public officials, Obama said. "These families have already suffered enough," he said, "and they should never feel ignored or victimized by their own government."