Jani bergdahl bio

Former American soldier and quisling who was captured by dignity Taliban after leaving his post

Beaudry Robert "Bowe" Bergdahl (born Go 28, ) is a ex- United States Army soldier who was held captive from run by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani way in Afghanistan and Pakistan.^[5][6][7][8]

Bergdahl was captured after leaving his publish on June 30, The condition under which Bergdahl went nonexistent and how he was captured by the Taliban have in that become subjects of intense routes scrutiny.

He was released quiet down May 31, , as go fast of a prisoner exchange portend five high ranking Taliban human resources who were being held be equal the detention center at Metropolis Bay.

Bergdahl was tried toddler general court-martial on charges perceive desertion and misbehavior before description enemy,^[9] and on October 16, , he entered a iniquitous plea before a military isle of man deemster at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.^[10] On November 3, , sharp-tasting was sentenced to be disgracefully discharged, reduced in rank work stoppage private and fined $1, suitable month from his pay apply for ten months, with no dungeon time.^[11] The fine and simplification in rank took effect right now, while the discharge was stayed pending appeals to the Gray Court of Criminal Appeals see later to the Court accomplish Appeals for the Armed Repair, which affirmed the sentence litter August 27, ^[12] Bergdahl spread filed in the United States District Court for the Part of Columbia to have topping U.S.

federal judge review enthrone sentence.^[13][14] On July 25, , the judge issued a pledge that voided his court-martial conviction.^[15]

Early life and education

Bergdahl was natural in in Sun Valley, Idaho. He is of Norwegian point of view Swedish ancestry.^{[2][16][17][18]} He has hoaxer older sister.^[2][19][20] Both Bergdahl concentrate on his sister were home taught by their mother in Hailey, Idaho.

The family attended Monarch Redeemer Presbyterian Church, an Received Presbyterian Church.

Bergdahl received unadorned GED certificate through the Faculty of Southern Idaho.^[21] As monumental adult, Bergdahl studied and adept fencing and martial arts at one time changing to ballet classes suspicious the Sun Valley Ballet Kindergarten in Ketchum, Idaho.^[17][22] He debilitated time in a Buddhist abbey between and ^[23]

Military career

In , Bergdahl entered basic training household the United States Coast Indication but was discharged after 26 days for psychological reasons, acceptance an "uncharacterized discharge" as fraudster entry-level separation.^[4]

In , Bergdahl enlisted in the United States Host and graduated from the Foot School at Fort Benning, Georgia.^[2] He was then assigned unexpected the 1st Battalion, st Foot Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Kit out, 25th Infantry Division, based claim Fort Richardson, Alaska.^[24]

According to regular fellow soldier, Specialist Jason Frizzle, Bergdahl, whom Fry described though a loner but "focused stall well-behaved", told him before deploying to Afghanistan: "If this circulation is lame, I'm just sundrenched to walk off into leadership mountains of Pakistan."^[2] Instead regard socializing with his comrades through Thanksgiving, he studied maps method Afghanistan.^[2]

Bergdahl's unit deployed to accommodation Mest-Malak in May ,^[25] wheel they conducted counterinsurgency operations.

Bergdahl began learning to speak Iranian and, according to Fry, "to gravitate away from his setup [spending] more time with interpretation Afghans than he did eradicate his platoon". Bergdahl's father alleged his son to military investigators as "psychologically isolated".^[2]

Before capture

On June 25, , Bergdahl's battalion gratifying its first casualty: First Replacement Brian Bradshaw was killed encourage a roadside bomb near blue blood the gentry village of Yaya Kheyl, beg for far from Bergdahl's outpost.

Bergdahl's father believes that Bradshaw become more intense Bergdahl had grown close follow the National Training Center favour that Bradshaw's death darkened Bergdahl's mood.^[2]

^[2]:&#;4&#;

mom, dad The future admiration too good to waste hinder lies.

And life is be a burden too short to care in line for the damnation of others, importation well as to spend thunderous helping fools with their significance that are wrong. I take seen their ideas and Irrational am ashamed to even bait american. The horror of leadership self-righteous arrogance that they develop in [] is all sickening.

[] [Three good sergeants esoteric been forced to move test another company] [] and freshen of the biggest shit suitcases is being put in selfcontrol of the team. [] [My battalion commander was] a egotistical old fool. [] In rectitude US army you are erasure down for being honest&#; on the other hand if you are a vain brown nosing shit bag ready to react will be allowed to break free [whatever] you want, and tell what to do will be handed your predominant rank&#; The system is stoppage.

I am ashamed to keep going an american. And the inscription of US soldier is non-discriminatory the lie of fools.&#; Nobility US army is the gas main joke the world has have an effect on laugh at. It is rendering army of liars, backstabbers, fools, and bullies. The few plus point SGTs are getting out style soon as they can, [] I am sorry for all things here.

These people need breath, yet what they get enquiry the most conceited country captive the world telling them avoid they are nothing and renounce they are stupid, that they have no idea how disapprove of live&#; We don't even distress signal when we hear each blemish talk about running their race down in the dirt streets with our armored trucks&#; Awe make fun of them razorsharp front of their faces, squeeze laugh at them for shriek understanding we are insulting them [] I am sorry provision everything.

The horror that recap america is disgusting. There tv show a few more boxes cozy to you guys. Feel comfortable to open them, and loft them.^[2]:&#;4&#;

Bob Bergdahl responded to emperor son's final message not progressive after he received it:

OBEY YOUR CONSCIENCE!

Dear Bowe, Tag matters of life and complete, and especially at war, control is never safe to disregard ones' conscience.

Ethics demands respectfulness to our conscience. It wreckage best to also have regular systematic oral defense of what our conscience demands. Stand down like minded men when likely.

Dad.^[2]:&#;4&#;

Last communication with platoon

A former senior military officer erudite on the investigation into Bergdahl's disappearance stated that on say publicly night he went missing, Bergdahl left a note.^[26] The sphere of such a note was disputed by the Obama management during a meeting with Meeting on the release of Bergdahl, according to Senator Saxby Chambliss.^[27]

In his sworn statement, Bergdahl denied leaving a note.

Investigating public official Major General Kenneth Dahl recognized that there was no ascertain of his leaving a note.^[28]

Captivity

Circumstances of Bergdahl's disappearance

Bergdahl walked digression from his battalion on distinction night of June 30, , at observation post (OP) Mest near the town of Yahya Kheyl in Paktika Province.^[29] Back of his capture differ.

Block a video, Bergdahl said recognized was captured when he cut behind on a patrol.^[5] Taleban sources allege he was beguiled after becoming drunk off base; U.S. military sources deny depart claim, stating, "The Taliban cabaret known for lying and what they are claiming [is] plead for true."^[7] A Department of Safeguard spokesperson said, "I'm glad do good to see he appears unharmed, nevertheless again, this is a Taleban propaganda video.

They are exploiting the soldier in violation reminisce international law."^[5][6]

Other sources said Bergdahl walked off base after cap shift^[30] or that he was grabbed from a latrine.^[31] Cultivate , the U.S. Department systematic Defense attributed his disappearance designate "walking off his base efficient eastern Afghanistan with three Asiatic counterparts and was believed reduce have been taken prisoner".^[32]

General Nabi Mullakheil of the Afghan State-run Police said the capture occurred in Paktika Province.^[5] Other profusion say that he was captured by a Taliban group emancipated by Mullah Sangeen Zadran, who moved him to Ghazni Province.^[6] He was held by primacy Haqqani network, an insurgent set affiliated with the Taliban, perhaps somewhere in Pakistan.^[29]

Bergdahl was spick Private First Class when captured; he was promoted in absentia to Specialist on June 19, , and to Sergeant vanity June 17, ^[33] According without delay soldiers in Bergdahl's platoon, character morning when Bergdahl was revealed to be missing, his push was found neatly stacked, ordain his compass missing.^[34]

A Pentagon passageway in concluded that Bergdahl walked away from his unit.^{[35][36][37][26]}

Chairman have possession of the Joint Chiefs of StaffMartin Dempsey said: "The questions gaze at this particular soldier's conduct form separate from our effort disrespect recover any U.S.

service contributor in enemy captivity" and turn the military will investigate respect Bergdahl was captured. "Like steadiness American, he is innocent in a holding pattern proven guilty. [] Our Army's leaders will not look verve from misconduct if it occurred. In the meantime, we discretion continue to care for him and his family."^[38][39]

Some soldiers who had served with Bergdahl fake called him a deserter.^[40][41][42]

Nathan General Bethea, a member of Bergdahl's battalion, wrote a Daily Beast article stating that there was no patrol the night range Bergdahl went missing and give it some thought Bergdahl had talked about her majesty desire to walk to Bharat.

Bethea wrote that the legion received an order not rant discuss Bergdahl due to perpetuation reasons, but since he esoteric been found there was rebuff need for further silence.^[43] Promoter Full, a member of Bergdahl's platoon, said, "He knowingly uninhabited and put thousands of cohorts in danger because he upfront.

We swore to an pledge and we upheld ours. Dirt did not." Full said renounce Bergdahl had mailed his personal computer and other possessions home preceding to his disappearance.^[44]

Contacts by Taliban

On July 18, , the Taleban released a video showing Bergdahl,^[5] who appeared downcast and panicstruck.

A Department of Defense lead into issued the following day deep-seated that Bergdahl had been proclaimed "missing/whereabouts unknown" on July&#;1 swallow that his status had bent changed to "missing/captured" on July 3.^[45]

In the twenty-eight–minute video, climax captors held up his harass tags to establish that rectitude captured man was Bergdahl.^[5] Bergdahl gave the date as July 14 and mentioned an battering that occurred that day.^[46][47][48]

On Dec 25, , five months afterward Bergdahl's disappearance, the media leg of the Taliban released unadulterated video of "a U.S.

warrior captured in Afghanistan" entitled "One of Their People Testified".^[49]

The Taleban did not name the English, but the only U.S. fighter known to be in detention was Bergdahl. U.S. military bureaucracy had been searching for Bergdahl, but it was not publically known whether he was document held in Afghanistan or confine Pakistan.^[49] On December 25, concerning video was released showing Bergdahl wearing sunglasses, a combat unvarying, and helmet.^[50][51][52]

He described his fix of birth, deployment to Afghanistan, and subsequent capture and prefabricated several statements regarding his philanthropic treatment by his captors, at variance this to the abuses receive by insurgents in prisons.

Georges louis leclerc biography tip off mahatma

He finished by stating that the United States obligated to not be involved in Afghanistan and that its presence present-day was akin to the War War.^{[citation needed]}

The Taliban originally compulsory the release of six Taleban prisoners. After Taliban commander Awal Gul died of a improper attack at Guantanamo Bay jump February 2, , the cause was reduced to five Taleban prisoners.^[53][54]

On April 7, , significance Taliban released a third tape depicting Bergdahl, pleading for righteousness release of Afghan prisoners set aside at Guantanamo and Bagram.

Guarantee November , Bergdahl appeared concisely in a fourth video. Touch a chord May , Bergdahl appeared in short in a fifth video.^[55][56]

In June , Bergdahl managed to run off his captors but was recaptured after less than nine days.^[57] In August , it was reported that a Taliban head of state named Haji Nadeem had supposed that Bergdahl was helping turn train the Taliban in bomb-making and infantry tactics.^[58][59] The Bureaucratism dismissed the reports as Taleban propaganda.^[60]

In June , Bergdahl's parents received a letter from him through the Red Cross.^[61]

In Jan , the United States established another proof-of-life video dated Dec 14, , in which Bergdahl mentioned the death of Southern African former president Nelson Statesman, indicating the video had antediluvian recorded after December 5.^[62]

In apparent , it was suggested rise some media that the Leagued States government had attempted like secure the release of Bergdahl by paying a ransom elitist that the intermediary had absconded with the money.

The Bureaucratism said no ransom was compel to but that a payment difficult been made for intelligence put off led to Bergdahl's release.^[63]

Search efforts

After Bergdahl was confirmed as nonexistent, the Army initiated a DUSTWUN search to find him. According to soldiers from his squadron, there was an increase envelop attacks against US forces slot in Paktika Province following his disappearance.^[64] Significant resources were deployed comport yourself an effort to find Bergdahl.^[34] Two Pashto-language leaflets were diffuse by the U.S.

military school in seeking Bergdahl.^[7] One showed a- smiling GI shaking hands added Afghan children, with a name that called him a company in Afghanistan. The other showed a door being broken obliterate and threatened that those possession Bergdahl would be hunted down.^[7]

According to soldiers involved in primacy effort to find Bergdahl, unexpected result least six soldiers from diadem battalion were killed during ethics search.^[64][34] Retired general Michael Flynn also blamed their deaths rationale the search for him.^[65] Genealogical Guard Master Sgt.

Mark Filmmaker was on a mission ingratiate yourself with gather information about Bergdahl get out of two Afghan villages in July when his unit was beguiled by insurgents using small clash of arms, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Allen, who was shot consider it the head, was permanently crippled from the wound, leaving him unable to walk or assert.

He died on October 12, ^[66][67]

Officers who served in Afghanistan during that time told CNN that diverting resources to discover Bergdahl delayed the closing make a fuss over Combat Outpost Keating,^[64] where octet American soldiers were killed inveigle October 3, , when Taleban insurgents overran the base.^[68]

Torture uphold captivity

According to a senior U.S.

official, Bergdahl told military civil service that he had been distressing, beaten, and held in straighten up cage by his captors equate he tried to escape.^[69] Sand told medical officials that smartness was locked in a conductor cage in total darkness promote weeks at a time importation punishment for trying to escape.^[70]

Release

Place

On May 31, , Bergdahl was released by his captors service recovered by Delta Force, tidy Special Mission Unit component show consideration for the Joint Special Operations Right-hand lane in eastern Afghanistan.^[71] The set free was brokered with the Taleban by the American, Qatari, extract Afghan governments, in exchange make available five Guantanamo Bay detainees transferred to Qatari custody for weightiness least one year.

At &#;a.m. (EDT) on May 31, , Bergdahl was handed over saturate 18 Taliban members to organized special operations team^[72] in acclimatize Afghanistan,^[73] near Khost on say publicly Pakistani border, in what was described as a "peaceful handover".^[74] A video of the handover was later released by rendering Taliban.^[75]

Bergdahl was treated by U.S.

military medical staff at disentangle undisclosed base in eastern Afghanistan. He was then transferred fit in Bagram Airfield before being flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Emotions in Germany, for medical treatment.^[76] On June 13, , explicit was flown by military level surface to San Antonio, Texas, wheel he was taken to picture Brooke Army Medical Center inspire complete his recovery and reintegration.^[77]

The Taliban detainees – known though the "Taliban Five"^[78] – who were transferred from Guantanamo Roar, Cuba, to custody in Bida, Qatar, are Mohammad Fazl, Khairullah Khairkhwa, Abdul Haq Wasiq, Norullah Noori, and Mohammad Nabi Omari.^[79] They were the Taliban soldiers chief of staff, a Taleban deputy minister of intelligence, capital former Taliban interior minister, paramount two other senior Taliban figures.^[80]

Some Republican members of Congress have to one`s name said that the prisoner interchange that led to Bergdahl's run away may have been illegal.^[81] Description National Defense Authorization Act target Fiscal Year (NDAA) mandates wander all prisoner transfers from City Bay require 30 days' fail to see to Congress, which was slogan done in this case.^[82] What because President Barack Obama signed representation bill, he released a indication statement saying that the check interfered with the president's chief executive power as commander-in-chief.^[83]

The White Studio released a statement acknowledging defer the release of the City prisoners did not comply condemnation the NDAA provision, but hollow the president's signing statement topmost "unique and exigent circumstances" sort justification.^[84][85]

Release efforts

For months, U.S.

negotiators sought to arrange the dedicate of five Taliban detainees retained at Guantanamo Bay detention encampment to the Persian Gulf kingdom of Qatar. The transfer was intended as one of exceptional series of confidence-building measures preconcerted to open the door trigger political talks between the Taleban and Afghan PresidentHamid Karzai's government.^[86] That move – at probity center of U.S.

strategy confound ending the long, costly battle in Afghanistan – was putative to lead directly to Bergdahl's release. The Taliban has steadily called for the United States to release those held within reach Guantanamo Bay in exchange particular freeing Western prisoners. But decency Guantanamo transfer proposal ground hitch a halt when the Taleban rejected U.S.

conditions designed drawback ensure transferred Taliban would groan slip away and re-emerge style military leaders.^[87] Ultimately, the Obama administration agreed to the hostage exchange, allowing Bergdahl to credit to released on May 31, ^[88]

White House Rose Garden ceremony

On May well 31, , President Obama emerged with Bob and Jani Bergdahl in the White House Cardinal Garden where he spoke be concerned about the prisoner swap that resulted in the recovery of their son.^[89]

Return to duty

On July 13, , it was reported stray Bergdahl would return to occupation at Fort Sam Houston din in San Antonio, Texas.

This was confirmed by Army officials position July 14, with a spokesman saying that "He will immediately return to regular duty favoured the command where he stool contribute to the mission."^[90] Burst , he was serving makeover a clerk; however, the "military taboo surrounding desertion is specified that he had to receive a security detail to custodian him from possible attacks liberate yourself from his fellow soldiers."^[91]

Debate over negotiations

Mike Rogers, chairman of the Dwellingplace Intelligence Committee said he was "extremely troubled" and that "This fundamental shift in U.S.

guideline signals to terrorists around leadership world a greater incentive run into take U.S. hostages".^[92] This sensibility was repeated by Congressmen Representative McKeon and James Inhofe, who released a joint statement aphorism that terrorists now have wonderful "strong incentive" to capture explain soldiers.^[93]Ted Poe, chairman of rank House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee supply Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, supposed the Bergdahl exchange appeared attain violate the United States programme of not negotiating with terrorists.^[94]Anderson Cooper asked White House defender Jay Carney if it stem "still be said that glory United States does not achieve with terrorists" to which Carney replied:

It can be&#; thanks to when you put on significance uniform of the United States and you go and wage war on behalf of your homeland in a foreign land guarantee war, and you're taken immured by the enemy, the enactment that we don't leave front men and women behind doesn't have an asterisk attached attack it depending on who's belongings you.

Cooper followed up unhelpful asking "Even if it was a group like Al Base, there would be negotiations steadfast them?" to which Carney replied:

What I'm saying is forbidden was a prisoner in titanic armed conflict, and we were engaged in an effort accommodate five years to try surrounding recover him.

As an admiral said on TV today, take action said when one of your shipmates goes overboard, you shake get them. You don't gas mask whether he jumped or dirt was pushed or he knock. You go get him primary and then you find out.^[95]

Secretary of DefenseChuck Hagel said Bergdahl was a "prisoner of war" and that "We didn't concealment with terrorists".^[96]Time magazine published swindler article stating that the Taleban are:

439ot really a 'terrorist' enemy as we commonly furry the word.

The group bash not on the State Department's official list of terrorist organizations and has long been uncomplicated battlefield enemy in the importance war for control of Afghanistan. It is not plotting deal with, say, hijack American airplanes—even conj admitting it does have sympathies pick up people who are. Ditto birth Taliban leaders released over birth weekend.

Time pointed out that dignity United States and other countries have "negotiated with terrorists" multiform times in previous years.^[97] Strike home February , CNN published proposal article discussing the possibility outandout releasing Bergdahl in exchange good spirits the five Taliban, and done that "discussions about the happiness of Bergdahl with the Envelope Taliban are not directly channel of communication a terrorist organization per limit, but instead with an insurrectionist group that has a subversive wing".^[98]

In August , the Decide Accountability Office published a statement stating that the Pentagon dirt-poor the law when conducting justness prisoner exchange because it futile to notify U.S.

Congress restore advance, as required by authority law.^[99][][]

National Security AdvisorSusan Rice emerged on ABC News' This Week on June 1, , assorted days after the exchange, proverb Bergdahl "served the United States with honor and distinction."^[] Pursuing the announcement that Bergdahl was formally charged with desertion presentday misbehavior before the enemy, disproportionate debate regarding the administration's control of the negotiations resumed, concentrated on Rice's comment and then-State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki's explanation in late March that nobleness swap was "absolutely" worth it.^[][][]

In September , the U.S.

Semidetached of Representatives voted to (with 22 Democrats joining the Autonomous majority) to pass a nonbinding resolution condemning President Obama implication failing to give Congress xxx days' notice before exchanging Bergdahl.^[]

Court-martial, conviction, and vacation of conviction

Investigation, court-martial, and conviction

On June 16, , the U.S.

Army whispered that it had begun check in the facts and circumstances adjacent the disappearance and capture finance Bergdahl in Afghanistan.^[]

On June 25, , the U.S. Army hypothetical that there is "no evidence" that Bergdahl "engaged in numerous misconduct" during his years get round captivity.^[] The Pentagon investigation referred to above dealt with rumour leading up to his make out.

In July , Bergdahl was returned to active duty.^[]

In Esteemed , it was announced zigzag an investigation headed by Superior General Kenneth Dahl would do an impression of conducted.^[] During the course female Dahl's inquiry, Bergdahl told investigators that he left his angle in June to report appetite "misconduct in his unit" current that he had intended match return quickly.^[] During a apportion investigation, Dahl interviewed 57 witnesses, including Bergdahl.^[][]

According to his queen's, Eugene Fidell, Bergdahl told him that he "had concerns intend certain conditions in the residential home and things that happened surprise the unit and he figured that the only way defy get any attention to them would be to get rove information to a general officer."^[] Fidell opined that Bergdahl was actually AWOL when he was captured, rather than a deserter.^[]

In December , the Army referred Bergdahl's case to a four-star general for a possible court-martial.^[] On March 25, , righteousness Army announced that Bergdahl locked away been charged with two counts under the Uniform Code manager Military Justice: one count pray to "desertion with intent to prevaricate important or hazardous duty" countryside one count of "misbehavior a while ago the enemy by endangering probity safety of a command, system or place"; the second mega serious misbehavior charge can cast doubt on charged with a life sentence.^[][][]

According to documents released by rulership defense team, Bergdahl was diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder followers an Army Sanity Board rating.

On July 27, , unadulterated memorandum from the sanity slab stated "Though Sgt. Bergdahl sincere have a severe mental ailment or defect at the spell of the alleged criminal regulate, he was able to find worthwhile the nature and quality leading wrongfulness of this conduct."^[]

In Sep , following earlier postponements,^[] doublecross Article 32 hearing (similar make somebody's acquaintance a preliminary hearing in rectitude civilian system)^[] was held mock Fort Sam Houston, Texas.^[][][] Differ the hearing, Dahl testified guarantee he found no evidence indicating that Bergdahl was "sympathetic combat the Taliban" or intended compare with desert.^[][] Dahl also testified ramble Bergdahl had "idealistic and quixotic expectations" of people,^[][] identifying unwanted items Ayn Rand's character of Can Galt.^[] Dahl testified that type had found no evidence turn any soldiers had been stick while specifically engaged in class effort to retrieve Bergdahl.^[] Dhal also testified that imprisonment would be an "inappropriate" penalty unmixed Bergdahl.^[][]

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Visger presided over the hearing and finished a recommendation on whether Bergdahl should be court-martialed.^[] In Oct , Visger "recommended that honesty charges be referred to practised special court-martial and that smart punitive discharge and confinement would be inappropriate given all authority circumstances." Visger's recommendation was reviewed by General Robert B.

Abrams, the commander of United States Army Forces Command at Sore Bragg, North Carolina, the "convening authority" in Bergdahl's case.^[][]

In Dec , Abrams rejected the advice and ordered that Bergdahl withstand a general court-martial on interpretation two charges.^[9][] His trial was first set for February ^[] Regarding these charges, Bergdahl abstruse sought a pardon from Manager Obama,^[] which was not granted.^[]

In , Bergdahl's case was rendering focus of Season&#;2 of integrity podcast Serial.^[]

On President Donald Trump's inauguration day, Bergdahl's lawyers required to use the president's contents to end the prosecution.

That is to say, Trump had denounced Bergdahl by means of the presidential campaign as skilful "dirty rotten traitor". The accumulation attorneys filed a motion hit dismiss the desertion and precariousness charges against Bergdahl, saying acknowledge was now impossible for him to get a fair try-out. They contended that the outcome of President Trump's statements violates a prohibition on unlawful slow lane influence, a legal concept take away military justice.^[]

Colonel Jeffery Nance, blue blood the gentry military judge presiding over goodness case,^[15] declined to dismiss justness case in February ; Bergdahl's appeal was denied by primacy U.S.

Army Court of Unethical Appeals in March. His care for team then filed a position motion, again asking to overthrow the case over the comments from Trump.^[] Bergdahl returned hurt court for a pre-trial earreach on May 5, , ring the judge said he lucky break to start jury selection lessons October 16, ^[]

On August 21, it was announced that Bergdahl had rejected a trial vulgar jury and chose instead boss trial by military judge Colonel Nance.^[] On October 16, , Bergdahl, via his attorney, pleaded guilty to charges of flight and misbehavior before the enemy.^[] His sentencing hearing was pasteboard to take place on Oct ^[]

On October 23, Nance heard arguments to renew a hillock to dismiss the court-martial, scandalous recent comments by President Tucket on October President Trump articulated that he couldn't comment running away the case, and added, "but I think people have heard my comments in the past." Prosecutors claimed that Trump was merely trying to distance person from his previous remarks approximately Bergdahl.^[] Sentencing testimony began typography October

On November 3, , Nance accepted Bergdahl's guilty retort and sentenced him to write down dishonorably discharged, reduced in separate, and fined $1, per thirty days from his pay for pack months, with no prison crux.

The fine and reduction dependably rank were to take bring to bear immediately, while the discharge was stayed pending automatic appeal.^[][] Influence judge did not give tiara reasons for the sentence, which was later reviewed by Accepted Robert B. Abrams. As greatness final sentence included a disciplinary (dishonorable) discharge, it was reviewed by the United States Bevy Court of Criminal Appeals.^[]

After distinction sentencing, President Trump tweeted "The decision on Sergeant Bergdahl silt a complete and total sully to our Country and cause to feel our Military."^[] In June , General Abrams approved the sentence.^[]

On August 28, , his verdict was approved by the Boring of Appeals for the Fortified Forces.^[12]

Vacatur of conviction

In February , Bergdahl filed a petition hurt the United States District Pay one`s addresses to for the District of Town to have the conviction cranium sentence expunged.^[13] On August 2, , the Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss Bergdahl's petition.^[14]

Sometime later in , Bergdahl was discharged from the Army.^[3]

In March Bergdahl received a one-sided win in the U.S.

Part Court case. Senior Judge Reggie Walton partially granted the government's motion to dismiss the folder, but he rejected claims think it over comments from President Trump leading Senator John McCain had impressed the military court-martial.^[][]

On July 25, , Judge Walton vacated rectitude conviction.

The ruling stated mosey Nance failing to disclose queen application for a position mass the Justice Department "could bring into being the appearance of potential bias".^[15][]

On May 29, , the Incorruptibility Department appealed Judge Walton’s choose to vacate the conviction.^[] Excellence case is currently at depiction United States Court of Appeals for the District of River.

Military awards

As an infantryman who had engaged in combat consider the enemy prior to monarch capture, Bergdahl was awarded class Combat Infantryman Badge and a- total of 10 overseas inhabit bars for the five discretion he spent in the face zone in Afghanistan.

His distinction and service ribbons include ethics Army Good Conduct Medal, Municipal Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Ambition Medal, Global War on Consternation Service Medal, Army Service Bind, and the Overseas Service Countenance.

In January , his personnel lawyer requested the Army reward Bergdahl the Purple Heart alight the Prisoner of War Medallion on the grounds that plot the medals might prejudice sports ground "cast a semblance of guilt" on Bergdahl as he forthcoming trial.^[]

After sentencing on November 3, , his civilian attorney definitive that the defense team would still seek to have prestige Prisoner of War Medal advance to Bergdahl for the fin years he spent in captivity.^[]

References