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Durbin says Bergdahl deal went down rapidly

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Democratic senator says the Obama administration only finalized the release of a U.S. prisoner in Afghanistan in exchange for five Taliban detainees at Guantanamo a day before the May 31 swap.

Sen. Dick Durbin also says U.S. officials didn’t know the location where they’d pick up Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl (boh BURG’-dahl) until an hour ahead of time.

Durbin presented the timeline Tuesday as an explanation for why President Barack Obama didn’t notify Congress 30 days before the prisoner deal.

Republicans and some Democrats are criticizing the president for failing to notify them and claim he broke the law. Obama says he acted legally.

Durbin said that waiting 30 days, quote, “could have endangered the man’s life.”

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