This undated photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.WASHINGTON – The Republican-controlled House voted Tuesday to condemn President Barack Obama for failing to give 30-day notice to Congress about the exchange in May of American prisoner Bowe Bergdahl for five Taliban leaders held at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The vote was 249-163, with 22 Democrats – many locked in tough re-election races – breaking ranks and backing the nonbinding resolution.
“By setting free five top Taliban commanders from U.S. custody, the Obama administration made Americans less safe,” Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement.
The vote castigating Obama came at a crucial moment for the administration as it sought to rally international and congressional support for steps to combat the rising threat of Islamic state militants in Iraq and Syria. The debate and vote coincided with a White House meeting in which the president discussed his strategy with House and Senate leaders. It also came on the eve of Obama’s address to the nation.
“What poor timing for a resolution,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas.