Lawmakers:Obama's Terrorist Deal Violated Law; Obama Says Pact Due to "Unique Circumstances"

Two Republican lawmakers -- who hold high-ranking positions in Congressional Armed Services Committees -- have accused President Barack Obama of breaking the law by approving the release of five Afghan terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in exchange for a U.S. soldier believed held by Islamist insurgents in Afghanistan for five years, the Yahoo News website reports today (June 1, 2014).

The White House agreed that it broke the law, but cited "unique and exigent circumstances" as justification for doing so.

Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 28, of Hailey, Idaho, was handed over to U.S. special operations forces by the Taliban. In return, five Afghans -- who were held at the U.S. detention facility in Cuba -- were released to the custody of the government of Qatar which served as a go-between in negotiations for the trade.

Rep. Howard McKeon of California -- Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee -- and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that Obama is required by law to notify Congress 30 days before any terrorists are transferred from the U.S. facility. They added that Obama also is required to explain how the threat posed by such terrorists has been substantially lessened.