The White House said Friday that constitutional authorities of the commander in chief trumped possible funding illegality in the transfer of five Taliban members in exchange for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
"The president has the constitutional responsibility to protect the lives of Americans abroad, and specifically to protect U.S. service members," White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters in Edgartown, Mass., "It's important for everyone here to understand that the GAO report expressly does not address the lawfulness of the administration's actions as a matter of constitutional law."