Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, announced that on Wednesday June 18 they will convene a hearing to examine the implications the exchange of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for five senior Taliban officials will have for U.S. national security and the fight against terrorism. The hearing, which will begin at 2 p.m., is entitled “The Bergdahl Exchange: Implications for U.S. National Security and the Fight Against Terrorism."
Chairman Poe on the hearing: “This hearing comes at a critical time. A lot has been said about the Sgt. Bergdahl-Taliban deal, about the President’s circumvention of law, about how bad these Taliban detainees are, about Qatar’s willingness or ability to restrict their activities, and the like. We are holding this hearing to get the ground truth from those who were in Afghanistan when it happened, those who suffered losses from this ordeal and to try and understand what the consequences of this deal will be."
Chairman Ros-Lehtinen on the hearing: “I was briefed by Administration officials about a potential swap for Guantanamo detainees in2011, was against it then, and I’m still against it now. In this Taliban swap, the Administration showed once again its willingness to get around Congress, even on major decisions affecting our troops serving overseas, and has a lot to answer for. The five members of the Taliban that the Administration released are extremely dangerous and their release can harm our national security interests in the region. This hearing will help us understand what the implications of this decision may be, both for our troops in Afghanistan and for our ongoing fight against terrorism."
What.
Joint Subcommittee Hearing: The Bergdahl Exchange: Implications for U.S. NationalSecurity and the Fight Against Terrorism
When.
2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18
Where.
2172 Rayburn House Office Building
Invited Witnesses Include.
Mr. Mike Waltz
Senior National Security Fellow
New America Foundation
(Commanded a Special Forces’ Company in Eastern Afghanistan in 2009)
Spc. Cody Full, USA, Retired
(Served with Sgt. Bergdahl in Blackfoot Company, Second Platoon)
Mr. Andy Andrews
Father of deceased Second Lieutenant, USA, Darryn Andrews
**Important planning note/RSVP requirement for press covering hearing**
The hearing will be webcast at foreignaffairs.house.gov.
The hearing room will likely not be able to accommodate all members of the media wishing to cover the hearing from the press viewing area.
Only Congressionally credentialed members of the media will be allowed access to the press viewing area in the committee hearing room and must RSVP to their respective Press Gallery by 5pm on Tuesday, June 17.
All television crews must RSVP to the House Radio TV Gallery at 202-225-5214.
Gallery contact information.
House Radio/TV Gallery: 202-225-5214
House Periodical Gallery: 202-225-2941
House Daily Press Gallery: 202-225-3945
Photographer Gallery: 202-224-6548.
