No jail time for Bowe Bergdahl, Trump says decision is a ‘total disgrace’
Bowe Bergdahl received a dishonorable discharge from the US Army but will avoid prison time for desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after abandoning his outpost in Afghanistan in 2009, a military judge ruled Friday.
“The decision on Sergeant Bergdahl is a complete and total disgrace to our Country and to our Military,” Trump tweeted Friday afternoon.
U.S. officials reached a deal in 2014 to release several Taliban prisons in exchange for Bergdahl, who left his base in Afghanistan and was then held captive by the Taliban. Bergdahl was later charged with desertion with intention to shirk duty and misbehavior before the enemy.
The judge also ruled that Bergdahl’s rank be reduced from sergeant to private. Additionally, he will be required to pay a $1,000 fine from his salary for the next 10 months.
“Sgt. Bergdahl has looked forward to today for a long time,” Eugene Fidell, Bergdahl’s civilian attorney, said at a news conference after the sentence was announced.”As everyone knows he was a captive of the Taliban for nearly five years, and three more years have elapsed while the legal process unfolded. He has lost nearly a decade of his life.”
The sentence is effective immediately, except for the dishonorable discharge, which Bergdahl is appealing, according to Fidell.
Bergdahl appeared visibly shaken as the sentence was announced according to an affiliate in the courtroom.
Prosecutors had requested a 14-year prison term following a week of emotional testimony from the survivors who were wounded during missions to find Bergdahl after he left the base in June 2009.
In closing arguments, defense attorneys argued that Bergdahl already had suffered enough confinement during five years of brutal captivity by Taliban allies. “Sgt. Bergdahl has been punished enough,” Banks added. “Sgt. Bergdahl paid a bitter price for the choices that he made.”
They asked the judge for a dishonorable discharge and no prison time.
From #Bergdahl:
“Master Sergeant Mark Allen, thank you for your service. The cost of your valor was too great. #Bergdahl” – James Woods, @RealJamesWoods
RNR Kentucky: “I Am Furious at Our Justice System Releasing #Bergdahl He Needs Charged With Homicide for These 6 Men Who Died Looking For Him #RNRKY” – @RNRKentucky
