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White House Apologises to lawmakers over prisoner swap

The controversy puts lawmakers in a tricky spot. Cognizant of the American military code to leave no soldier behind, they agree that securing Bergdahl’s release after five years in Taliban captivity was admirable.

But lawmakers have blasted the swap for appearing to violate the principal of not negotiating with terrorists.

“I am concerned about what precedents we set here for exchanges, because I don’t want the message to be, you can go ahead and capture Americans and use them to barter for others,” Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Robert Menendez told reporters.

And lawmakers Tuesday seized on administration rationale that the swap was rushed because Bergdahl’s health had deteriorated sharply and his life was in immediate danger.

“I have heard no evidence that that is the case,” said Senate Intelligence Committee member Susan Collins.

Meanwhile, CNN reported Tuesday that a US Army fact-finding investigation conducted in the months after Bergdahl’s 2009 disappearance concluded that he left his post deliberately, according to an official familiar with the probe who spoke with the network on condition of anonymity.

The official said there was no definitive finding Bergdahl had deserted because that would have required knowing his intent.

The probe also interviewed members of Bergdahl’s unit, none of whom reported seeing him go, according to the official.

Pentagon spokesman Steven Warren confirmed there was such a fact-finding investigation in 2009, but stressed that its findings are classified.

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