Court Proceedings Against Army Deserter Bowe Bergdahl Expected To Be Emotionally Charged
Vittorio Hernandez | | Mar 26, 2015 01:32 AM EDT |
(Photo : REUTERS/via Reuters TV) U.S. Army Private Bowe Bergdahl eats in a video released by his captors at an unknown location in Afghanistan, July 19, 2009.
The public should prepare for an emotionally charged court proceedings against Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl who had already been given a copy of the charge sheet. Bergdahl left his patrol in 2009 in Afghanistan but was held captive for five years,
The controversy comes from debates the past 10 months if he should face charges for deserting the Army. It also stems from speculations on whether U.S. President Barack Obama broke the law when he authorized the release of five Talibans held by the U.S. in exchange for Bergdahl's release without consulting Congress.
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Ahead of the hearing, Jen Psaki, the incoming communications director of the Obama administration, defended the president's move. She told Megyn Kelly on "The Kelly File" that the deal for Bergdahl's release is part of their commitment to do all in their power to bring their military personnel home.
"We have a commitment to our men and women serving in the military, defending our national security every day, that we're going to do everything to bring them home if we can, and that's what we did in this case," quotes Fox News.
The 28-year-old soldier faces a preliminary Article 32 hearing. If he is convicted of the charges, authorized by Gen. Mark Miley, commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces Command, Bergdahl could face life imprisonment.
The probably life sentence would be an irony because the five Talibans were released for his freedom, only to have him jailed again.
Bergdahl's lawyers said they have not been granted access to the contents of the results of the Army investigation in 2014 of the soldier's disappearance. At the same time, the defense team asked the public to withhold judgment on the character of Bergdahl.
The defense also requested government officials to refrain from leaking information or any other act that could place in jeopardy Bergdahl's shot at a fair trial.
The team had written a letter to Milley, the copy of which they released to the public on March 2, asking the genera for leniency to Bergdahl because he was help captives by the Talibans. His circumstances then include being chained to a bed spread-eagle and blindfolded.
Bergdahl claims he attempted to escape 12 times but was not successful.
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