Bergdahl to Face Military Court on Charges of Desertion and Endangering Fellow Soldiers

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will face a general court-martial on charges of desertion and endangering fellow soldiers, a decision that breaks with the recommendation of the U.S. military officer overseeing Bergdahl's preliminary hearing. The charges could result in life imprisonment if Bergdahl is convicted of "misbehavior before the enemy by endangering the safety of a command, unit or place." Bergdahl's defense attorney has slammed the decision, stating that the case would not have gone in this direction.

Key Takeaways:

  • U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will face a general court-martial on charges of desertion and endangering fellow soldiers.
  • Gen. Robert Abrams ordered the court-martial, breaking with the recommendation of the U.S. military officer overseeing Bergdahl's preliminary hearing.
  • Bergdahl could face life imprisonment if convicted of "misbehavior before the enemy by endangering the safety of a command, unit or place."
  • Bergdahl disappeared from his base in Afghanistan in June 2009 and was held in captivity by the Taliban until the U.S. released five Taliban detainees in a controversial exchange for Bergdahl in May 2014.
  • Six U.S. troops died in the months following Bergdahl's disappearance during missions partly aimed at finding and rescuing him.
  • Bergdahl's defense attorney, Eugene Fidell, slammed the decision, stating that he "had hoped the case would not go in this direction."
  • Lt. Col. Mark Visger, the Army investigator who led the preliminary hearing into the charges Bergdahl faces, recommended against Bergdahl facing any jail time in October.
  • Maj. Gen. Kenneth Dahl testified in September that jail time would be "inappropriate" and said he did not find any evidence to corroborate the reporting that Bergdahl was sympathetic to the Taliban.

Statistics:

  • Bergdahl disappeared from his base in Afghanistan in June 2009.
  • Bergdahl was held in captivity by the Taliban until the U.S. released five Taliban detainees in a controversial exchange for Bergdahl in May 2014.
  • Six U.S. troops died in the months following Bergdahl's disappearance during missions partly aimed at finding and rescuing him.

Sources:

  • [Source: CNN, "Bergdahl to face military court on charges of desertion and endangering fellow soldiers"]
  • [Source: CNN, "Bowe Bergdahl's lawyer reacts to court-martial decision"]