BOTCHED RANSOM? Rep presses FBI on alleged ‘payment’ for Bergdahl
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THE FBI PLAYED a central role in making a botched ‘payment’ meant to help secure Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s release last year, according to the office of a House Republican now seeking answers on why the bureau may have been involved at all in the apparent rescue attempt.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. — who has long questioned whether a ransom of some kind was offered for Bergdahl’s release — claimed in a recent letter to the Justice Department inspector general that he has learned “non-DoD organizations, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), undertook the recovery mission.”
As part of this effort, Hunter told DOJ IG Michael Horowitz, the FBI even went to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and “awaited Bergdahl’s arrival following some form of discussion about facilitating a payment.”
Bergdahl didn’t show – and ultimately was not released until May when he was traded for five Taliban leaders. Hunter’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, told FoxNews.com the unsuccessful FBI border visit came after this operation paid an Afghan intermediary, who then ran off with the money.
“The FBI was leading the op,” Kasper said.
Hunter now wants the DOJ IG to look into the alleged payment, including the amount and whether it was made in violation of the law.
A representative with the FBI did not comment on Hunter’s claims when asked by FoxNews.com.
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