WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, issued the following statement today in advance of a closed briefing for all senators on the exchange for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl:

“‘Leave no one behind’ isn’t a Hollywood catch phrase; it’s a fundamental American principle. I don’t know all of the facts around the Bergdahl exchange yet, but what I do know is this: last week there was a United States soldier in captivity, and today he is back in the care of the United States Army. 

“I eagerly await today’s briefing and those scheduled for the days ahead and am hopeful we will start to better understand the facts of this case. But as we take a closer look at the circumstances of this exchange, I hope that the facts, the law, and the history are not eclipsed by speculation or partisan rhetoric. The American people – including those who serve in the armed forces – deserve more from us.”

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