Byrne Looks Forward to Answers on Detainee Transfer

Washington, DC – June 3, 2014 – Representative Bradley Byrne (AL-1) reacted to this afternoon’s announcement that House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (CA-25) has invited Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to testify before the Committee on Wednesday, June 11, on the transfer of five Taliban detainees.  

Byrne said: “America does not negotiate with terrorists. This is a longstanding policy that protects our troops from hostage-taking and sends a strong message that terrorist activity will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, it is my belief that the Administration has not only violated this policy, but that they have broken the statute requiring Congressional notification 30 days prior to any such transfer. Secretary Hagel must appear before our committee to answer for the Administration’s choice to move forward with this transfer without following the law, and prove to the American people that freeing these senior Taliban detainees poses no threat to our national security.”