President Barack Obama is not wilting before Republican outrage that he made a deal to free Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the Taliban prisoner Republicans had
previously pleaded be released. Obama acknowledged the Republican response, saying "I'm never surprised by controversies that are whipped up in Washington," and made
a strong defense of his decision:
“I make absolutely no apologies for making sure we get back a young man to his parents,” Obama said at a joint press conference in Brussels with British Prime Minister David Cameron. [...]
Obama reiterated that no matter what the allegations surrounding Bergdahl's conduct, the U.S. had a “basic principle” that they “do not leave anybody wearing the American uniform behind.”
“The American people understand this is somebody's child and that we don't condition whether or not we make the effort to get someone back,” Obama said.
Meanwhile, the list of Republicans who initially tweeted in celebration of Bergdahl's release then
deleted those tweets continues to grow.
10:08 AM PT:
BREAKING: Officials: Congress not told of swap because Taliban threatened to kill Bergdahl if it leaked .
— @AP