US News

Senate will be briefed by Obama administration on Bergdahl swap

High-level Obama administration officials will brief the entire Senate Wednesday on the controversial deal that freed five dangerous Guantanamo Bay detainees in exchange for POW Bowe Bergdahl.

The meeting was requested by several lawmakers, and the officials — including representatives from the Defense Department and Joint Chiefs of Staff — are expected to face tough questions.

Top-level senators briefed Tuesday by the Pentagon offered bipartisan criticism of the swap. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called it “very disappointing” that Congress was kept in the dark.

She also noted the “virtually unanimous” opposition to the unprecedented plan when it was first floated in 2011.

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said President Obama “did something that is No. 1 illegal, No. 2 is a great disservice impairing our national defense, No. 3 that it’s going to kill Americans.” Geoff Earle