A military judge has begun deliberating the punishment for Idaho U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl for endangering comrades by walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009.
Army Colonel Jeffery Nance said he planned to spend Thursday afternoon deliberating. He planned to open court again Friday and could continue deliberating then. He didn’t indicate when he would deliver the sentence.
Bergdahl faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy for walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009. He was held by Taliban allies for five years before President Barack Obama in 2014 won his release in a swap for five Taliban prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
Both sides gave closing arguments Thursday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as prosecutors again cited serious wounds to several service members who searched for Bergdahl in recommending a prison sentence of 14 years and a punitive discharge.
Defense attorneys argued for leniency by citing Bergahl’s five years in Taliban captivity, harsh campaign-trail criticism by Donald Trump, and his mental disorders. They asked for a dishonorable discharge but no confinement as Bergdahl’s sentence. Nance has wide discretion because Bergdahl didn’t strike a plea agreement with prosecutors to limit his punishment.
The 31-year-old soldier from Hailey has said he left his post intending to reach a commander at another base and describe what he saw as problems with his unit. (AP)
