“But there’s a lot of facts the people don’t have right now, McCaskill assails 'rush to judgment'

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) on Wednesday evening lashed out at an “un-American” rush to judgment over the military record of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, following an all-senators briefing on the prisoner swap that led to the soldier’s release.


One of the last senators to leave the two-hour meeting with administration officials, McCaskill said she hopes that eventually all the facts surrounding Bergdahl’s service are declassified “in fairness to the soldier and his family.”

“What’s unfortunate is that many people have spoken out about this episode without having all the facts,” McCaskill said in an interview. “I’m not going to make a judgment. There are circumstances that are difficult for this soldier and his family.

( Also on POLITICO: White House braced for Bergdahl backlash)

“But there’s a lot of facts the people don’t have right now. And this rush to judgment is frankly un-American. Especially considering that this is somebody who signed up and said: ‘I’m willing to die for my country.’ And was held in captivity for five years.”

She added: “I’m just anxious for all of the facts to get out there. I think a lot of them will become public.”

Bergdahl’s release was secured on Saturday in exchange for the release of five Taliban prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay.

( Also on POLITICO: Bergdahl's town cancels celebration)

Soldiers in Bergdahl’s unit have raised questions about his service record, telling CNN Bergdahl was “selfish” and a deserter. The New York Times reported on a note that Bergdahl left at his Afghanistan military base in 2009 that contained statements about his disillusionment with military service.

At the briefing on Wednesday, Obama administration officials dispelled that notion.

“I was shocked to see a New York Times article yesterday in which it was alleged that a statement had been left by then Pvt. Bergdahl with his gear,” said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), a staunch critic of how the deal was carried out. “We were told today that is not true. There was no statement.”

( DRIVING THE DAY: Congress left out of Bergdahl deal)

It remains unclear how much of the Army’s information on Bergdahl will become public, or whether senators will hold an unclassified hearing on his service or the circumstances of the deal made to free him. But McCaskill said “a lot” of the information surrounding Bergdahl will eventually be made available to the media — a sentiment shared by other senators as they left the briefing.

“There are many who want to dismiss this and say, ‘Well, we have suspicions about this man, here there and the other place,’” said Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “Believe me, those questions will ultimately be answered.”