A military judge will weigh whether President Donald Trump’s critical statements about Idaho U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl have hurt the soldier’s chances of getting fair treatment in the desertion case that could send him to prison for life.
Bergdahl’s lead attorney argued at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Monday that the 31-year-old Hailey native should be spared prison time because the Republican president has unlawfully influenced the proceedings, specifically comments calling Bergdahl a “traitor”.
Bergdahl pleaded guilty last week to walking off his post in Afghanistan in June 2009 and endangering the lives of fellow troops. He was quickly captured by the Taliban and spent the next five years in captivity.
His sentencing proceedings were due to get underway Monday but were postponed until Wednesday due to a family emergency for a lawyer in the case.
The Army judge in the case, Colonel Jeffery Nance, has previously ruled the comments by the then-candidate Trump were “disturbing” but refused to dismiss the case. The judge did not immediately rule on the latest motion.
Bergdahl pleaded guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, with the latter offense carrying a possible life sentence. He entered a “naked plea,” meaning he does not have an agreement about the sentencing terms with prosecutors. (Reuters)
