WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Republican
lawmakers on Saturday accused President Barack Obama of breaking the
law by approving the release of five Afghan detainees held at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba, in exchange for a U.S. soldier believed held by Islamist
insurgents for five years.The White
House agreed that actions were taken in spite of legal requirements and
cited "unique and exigent circumstances" as justification.
Sgt.
Bowe Bergdahl, 28, of Hailey, Idaho, was handed over to U.S. special
operations forces by the Taliban. In return, five Afghans who were held
at a U.S. detention facility in Cuba were released to the custody of the
government of Qatar, which served as a go-between in negotiations for
the trade.
Rep. Howard "Buck"
McKeon of California and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma said in a
statement that Obama is required by law to notify Congress 30 days
before any terrorists are transferred from the U.S. facility. They said
Obama also is required to explain how the threat posed by such
terrorists has been substantially mitigated.
McKeon is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Inhofe is the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In
response, the White House said it moved as quickly as possible given
the opportunity that arose to secure Bergdahl's release. Citing "these
unique and exigent circumstances," the White House said a decision was
made to go ahead with the transfer despite the legal requirement of 30
days advance notice to Congress.
While
saying they celebrate Bergdahl's release, McKeon and Inhofe warned that
the exchange "may have consequences for the rest of our forces and all
Americans."
"Our terrorist
adversaries now have a strong incentive to capture Americans. That
incentive will put our forces in Afghanistan and around the world at
even greater risk," they said.
Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said in a statement that
"the safe return of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is an answer to the prayers of
the Bergdahl family and a powerful reinforcement of our nation's
commitment to leave no service member behind."
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Associated Press writer Douglass K. Daniel contributed to this report.
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