Bergdahl seeks pardon from Obama to avert desertion trial
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl arrives for a pretrial hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, a former prisoner of war accused of endangering his U.S. comrades by walking off his post in Afghanistan is asking President Barack Obama to pardon him before leaving office.
WASHINGTON >> U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the former prisoner of war who’s accused of endangering comrades by walking off his post in Afghanistan, is asking President Barack Obama to pardon him before leaving office.
White House and Justice Department officials said Saturday that Bergdahl had submitted copies of the clemency request seeking leniency. If granted by Obama, it would allow Bergdahl to avert a military trial scheduled for April where he faces charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. The misbehavior charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
If the pardon isn’t granted, Bergdahl’s defense team said it will expand its legal strategy to the new administration by filing a motion arguing President-elect Donald Trump violated his due process rights with scathing public comments about the case.
The pardon request to Obama, first reported by The New York Times and Fox News, was confirmed by White House and Justice Department officials who weren’t authorized to discuss the matter by name.
Bergdahl, of Hailey, Idaho, walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held captive by the Taliban and its allies for five years.
The Obama administration’s decision in May 2014 to exchange him for five Taliban prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prompted criticism that included some Republicans accusing Obama of jeopardizing nation’s safety. Some lawmakers were outraged that the administration didn’t give Congress a 30-day notice about transferring the detainees, as required by law.
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Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump was Bergdahl’s most vocal critic, saying repeatedly the soldier is a traitor who would have been executed in the “old days.”
During a July speech in Indiana, Trump lamented that Bergdahl could wind up with a light punishment.
“Remember the old days? A deserter, what happened?” he said before pantomiming pulling a trigger and adding: “Bang.”
Bergdahl’s lead defense lawyer, Eugene Fidell, declined to comment Saturday on the pardon request.
But Fidell said he plans to file a motion seeking dismissal of the charges against Bergdahl shortly after the January inauguration, arguing Trump violated Bergdahl’s constitutional due-process rights.
The defense has been noting Trump’s comments about Bergdahl in what they’ve dubbed the “Trump Defamation Log.” A version included in the court record lists 40 such instances as of August.
“All of these things put together and repeated rally upon rally for basically a year have a cumulative effect that I think is totally at odds with the right to a fair trial,” Fidell said in a phone interview.
A spokeswoman for Trump didn’t respond to emails seeking comment.
There is precedent for a military judge to decide a president’s comments have tainted a military prosecution.
In 2013, a Navy judge cited comments by Obama when he issued a pretrial order that two defendants in sexual assault cases couldn’t be punitively discharged if they were found guilty. The judge wrote that Obama’s public comments about cracking down on sexual assault, specifically referencing dishonorable discharges, appeared to be demand particular results from military courts.
“People in the military do what their commanders tell them to do,” said Eric Carpenter, a law professor at Florida International University who served as an Army lawyer. He said there’s a risk that military jurors could punish Bergdahl because they think it’s what their commander in chief wants, rather than deciding strictly on the evidence.
Carpenter said he’d be surprised if the Army judge dismissed the charges entirely, but he could give the defense leeway to question potential jurors and reject them based on their answers about Trump.
Bergdahl, who faces trial at Fort Bragg, has said he walked off his post in Afghanistan because he wanted to cause an alarm and draw attention to what he saw as problems with his unit.
24 responses to “Bergdahl seeks pardon from Obama to avert desertion trial”
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There may or may not be a convincing argument that Bergdahl’s act led to the deaths of U.S. soldiers tasked with rescuing him. Nevertheless, I don’t think he can count on Obama for a “Get out of jail free” card. Even Obama knows that what little favorable legacy he has can still be further damaged by answering Bergdahl’s hopes or prayers. The option to influence or change his fate is going to be punted to Donald Trump.
If I were King, I’d banish Bowe Bergdahl to ignominy in Mexico, Canada or scenic Saint Helena. If the latter, then at least he can look forward to an excellent cup of coffee.
I read where if O pardons Bergdahl then the information on this case will be sealed.
Americans will never know WHO was involved, WHAT happened & WHY 5 TERRORISTS were released.
Transparency was never in this administration…PERIOD!
#MAGA
IRT DeltaDag, there is no question that Bergdahl abandoned his post and fellow soldiers in 2009, becoming a traitor. All the other stories are the fog of his basic action. For me, a Vietnam combat infantryman, the action in 2009 by Bergdahl ends any respect of him as an American soldier. The Military Court must decide his faith, period.
Add Bowe Bergdal to O’s LEGACY list…the W0RST of any American Potus.
A lot of Americans branded Bergdahl a TRAITOR..I’d be remiss if I didn’t include……
#KickOutTheTraitor
January 20, 2017 #MAGA
……..Now I’m not an “Intern Attorney” such as Klsat3,but aren’t you supposed to be Charged first before the president,or any President can issue a pardon?
“Imagine if you will”.No this is not the Twilight Zone. lol.
Obama’s DOJ ( loretta Lynch) indicts and charges Hillary Clinton with the email shenanigans. Next, Obama comes swooping down to the rescue…singing “Here He Comes to Save The Daaaaayyyyy” That’s the “Mighty Mouse” song for those who don’t know who Mighty Mouse is. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Then and only then,can Obama issues a pardon for her,because really? They don’t trust President Elect Trump…… remember President Trump said” They’re Good people, I don’t wanna Hurt them”. But…..After the recount issue,you think Trump is going to forgive and forget? #Lock Her Up!
” . . . and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.”
the constitution allows the president to pardon offenses, it does not limit the power to pardon to any time frame connected to the indictment, arrest or conviction of the pardoned.
I would have more respect for Bergdahl if he would man up and accept responsibility and consequences for his actions instead of trying to weasel his way out by asking for a pardon but then you can’t expect that from someone who deserted when things didn’t go his way…..
Though ya gotta admit, the Combat Infantryman Badge does look good on his chest. I wonder if in the end he gets to keep it as a souvenir?
IRT DeltaDog, just checked my CIB and it’s a little tarnished. Pray it can gain its shine again.
All I wish for Christmas is he spend the Holidays anywhere else but Hawaii.
Me too!!
Sadly…O knows “How to PAAAHHTTTEEEE!”!!
That & being racist…that’s all he knows.
t minus 48 for bergdahl and clinton.
will it be one pardon between them, or will both be pardoned.
or, none.
God bless the protestors…. he’s a fighter. Pardon him and let’s put this war behind us.
You guys still don’t get it! Even after a landslide A$$ whopping.
What doesn’t he get?
He also does’t get that the majority voted for Clinton.
@ wiliki.
“….the majority voted for Clinton”.
The majority of Electoral votes went to PE Trump which sends The Donald to the WH.
January 20, 2017 #MAGA
He deserves to have a fair trial and upon conviction, taken out and hung.
Isn’t that what they used to say about horse thieves back in the old west….”he’ll be given a fair trial and then hung from the nearest tree…..”
Another variation:
He was given a decent trial, and then decently shot.
Coward, traitor and a bum! Hang him from the highest tree! Dishonorable discharge for sure. Combat vet. Vietnam 67-68
You and your men couldn’t stop him? Why? Is he a superman? Now you say, “just let his stupid ass go”. You might be one of our problems, too.
A deserter or defector? It’s the misbehavior before the enemy part that’s important. A deserter should receive a fair jail term and dishonorable discharge. A defector would deserve to be hung or jailed for the rest of his life, depending on circumstances. Which is he?
IRT SWYT, it’s desertion. And, the military trial can decide death for desertion during time of War. Allow the military trial to decide.