Statement by Representative Matt Salmon on the Fallout of the Obama Administration's Negotiations with Terrorists

Statement

Rep. Matt Salmon (AZ-05) today released the following statement after hearing that the U.S. Government will charge Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion.

"When word first broke that the U.S. Government had not only negotiated with terrorists, but agreed to trade five high-ranking Taliban militants for his release, I was outraged. The singular effect of this ghastly exchange was to put American lives around the world at greater risk.

"We have already begun to feel the negative effects. Shortly after the misguided exchange for Sgt. Bergdahl took place, the extremist group who captured Arizonan Kayla Mueller similarly upped their demands for her safe return to include the lives of another captured terrorist.

"When news of this trade broke, the Afghan Government objected, and many in Congress agreed. Now that the U.S. Government has announced plans to charge Sgt. Bergdahl with desertion, we can at least be assured that justice will be served for the servicemen who lost their lives while reportedly searching for him after his capture."

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