Byrne: Serious Questions Remain on Detainee Transfer

Following the first public Congressional hearing on the transfer of five Taliban officials in exchange for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, Congressman Bradley Byrne (AL-1) expressed his immense concern that the transfer will put American service members at greater risk.

Congressman Byrne took part in a House Armed Services Committee hearing with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. The hearing was scheduled in response to the transfer of five mid to high-ranking Taliban officials in exchange for Sgt. Bergdahl, who had been held captive in Afghanistan for the past five years.

Byrne said: “I appreciate Secretary Hagel for spending considerable time in front of our committee today. I went into the hearing with serious concerns that our military members serving in the Middle East, and Americans the world over, are in greater danger today due to the release of these Taliban officials. Secretary Hagel’s testimony did little to ease my concerns, and actually only raised more questions about the security of Americans abroad.

“Of particular concern to me, Secretary Hagel failed to provide a compelling reason why the law was not followed in regard to notifying Congress 30-days prior to the release of any Guantanamo Bay prisoners. The idea that the President can unilaterally decide that a law does not apply to him should be alarming to all Americans.

“This investigation is not over. We will continue to demand answers about this secret deal from the Obama administration to ensure a future transfer of this nature does not happen again.”

Section 1035 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2014 says that the Secretary of Defense must notify Congress at least 30 days before the transfer or release of a Guantanamo detainee. More information on that provision of the NDAA can be found here.

More information on today’s hearing, including video and opening statements, can be found here.