GAO Determines Bergdahl-Taliban Swap Was Illegal
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File photo. Credit: US Army(WASHINGTON) — Accusations by congressional Republicans that the Pentagon broke the law when it swapped five Taliban detainees for Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl were validated by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office Thursday.
Immediately after Bergdahl was released in late May following five years of captivity in Afghanistan, GOP lawmakers and some Democrats questioned the urgency to make the trade for Bergdahl, saying Congress was not given the required 30 days’ notice before making the deal.
Although the administration argued Bergdahl’s life was in imminent danger, the GAO rejected that rationale, saying the law was broken because written notice was not provided to the relevant congressional committees until the day that swap occurred.
Last month, the GOP-controlled House Armed Services Committee supported a non-binding resolution condemning the trading of the five Taliban detainees for Bergdahl.
Adding to the controversy is Bergdahl’s alleged desertion from his military post before his capture. The Pentagon is conducting a probe into the matter and will release its results next month, which could mean disciplinary action against Bergdahl, who is currently back in the States at a desk job.
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