Bergdahl Claims Taliban Tortured Him

U.S. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl hsa told people treating him at an American military medical facility in Germany that he was tortured, beaten and held in a cage by his Taliban captors in Afghanistan after he tried to escape, a senior U.S. official said Sunday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss what Bergdahl has revealed about conditions of his captivity. The New York Times first reported on the matter. The official said it was difficult to verify the accounts Bergdahl has given since his release a week ago. Bergdahl, now 28, was captured in June, 2009 after he disappeared from his infantry unit. He was held for nearly five years by Taliban militants. Taliban spokesmen could not be immediately reached for comment Sunday. On Friday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told The Associated Press by telephone that Bergdahl was held under "good conditions." The claim could not be independently verified. Military doctors at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center say that while Bergdahl is physically able to travel he's not yet emotionally prepared to be reunited with his family. He has not yet spoken to his family. It's unclear when he may get to go home. The Pentagon said in a statement Sunday that it would not comment on Bergdahl's discussions with those caring for him. Bergdahl was returned to the U.S. military in exchange for the release of five Taliban militants from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The deal, which the Obama White House pulled off without adhering to a law requiring 30 days' notice before the release of the Guantanamo detainees, ignited a political firestorm that shows no signs of abating.