WATCH: Pence goes after Obama administration on American hostage rescues

Vice President Mike Pence expressed sympathy for the family of Kayla Mueller, an American humanitarian aid worker who was taken captive and killed by ISIS militants in Syria in 2015. Two men were extradited to the U.S. and charged with crimes related to her Mueller’s murder earlier on the same day of the debate, Oct. 7.

“When Joe Biden was vice president, we had an opportunity to save Kayla Mueller-- breaks my heart to reflect on it,” Pence said, citing a failed operation by the Obama administration in 2014 to rescue Mueller and several other hostages that were being held in Syria. He added that Mueller’s parents believe if Donald Trump had been president, their daughter would be alive today. After Mueller’s death, Obama expressed regret over the failed raid and said telling families like the Muellers that the U.S. will not pay ransom in exchange for hostages is “as tough as anything I do.” In the wake of Mueller’s death among other American hostages held by ISIS, the Obama administration ordered changes in their policies handling these cases, including making clear that families should not be threatened with criminal charges if they try to pay ransoms.

Pence also criticized Biden’s intention to re-implement the Iran Nuclear Deal, claiming that the Obama administration funneled $1.8 billion into the country as part of the 2015 agreement. Pence was likely referring to a cash transfer of $1.7 billion that negotiators settled on to resolve a contract for the purchase of U.S. military equipment by Iran that predated the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

In response, Harris apologized to the Muellers, saying that both Biden and former President Barack Obama regret Mueller’s death. She then pivoted to discuss the Trump administration’s authorization in January of a strike killing Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian military official. Thirty-four U.S. service members were diagnosed with concussions or traumatic brain injuries following the strike, which Trump dismissed as “headaches.” “This is about a pattern of Donald Trump's where he has referred to our men who are serving in our military as suckers and losers,” said Harris, citing other examples when Trump has derided U.S. troops and military leadership. She also cited reporting that Trump did not raise the issue of alleged Russian bounties on U.S. soldiers during his calls with President Vladimir Putin. “Joe Biden would never do that,” she said. “Joe Biden would hold Russia to account for any threat to our nation’s security.” Pence countered that Trump not only “respects,” but “reveres,” Americans serving in the armed forces.

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Видео WATCH: Pence goes after Obama administration on American hostage rescues канала PBS NewsHour