who is bowe bergdahl's lawyer

by Mr. Davin Terry 6 min read

Eugene Fidell

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Is Bo Bergdahl still in the Army?

November 3, 2017 – Receives a dishonorable discharge from the US Army and will avoid prison time. The military judge also rules that Bergdahl's rank be reduced from sergeant to private and he will be required to pay a $1,000 fine from his salary for the next 10 months.

How long was Bo Bergdahl?

five yearsBowe Bergdahl, who vanished in Afghanistan and spent five years in brutal captivity before the United States recovered him in a controversial prisoner swap, pleaded guilty Monday to two crimes in connection with his disappearance. Bergdahl, now 31, was a private first class when he went missing in 2009.

How was Bowe Bergdahl captured?

A several-dozen strong US special forces team flew in by helicopter and briefly met some 18 Taliban on the ground. The exchange, captured on video, shows Sgt Bergdahl sitting in a pick-up truck before being walked to the helicopter.

Why did Bowe Bergdahl desert?

Gen. Kenneth Dahl, Bergdahl's goal wasn't to disappear into the Afghan wilderness or (as Trump alleged) turn traitor and defect to the Taliban. Instead, he had a plan to blow the whistle on (apparently largely imagined) "officer incompetence" and mismanagement in his unit.

Is Bo Bergdahl still alive?

He died on October 12, 2019. Officers who served in Afghanistan during that time told CNN that diverting resources to find Bergdahl delayed the closing of Combat Outpost Keating, where eight American soldiers were killed on October 3, 2009, when 300 Taliban insurgents overran the base.

What happened with Bergdahl?

In a narrow decision, the U.S. military's top appeals court has upheld a conviction against former Army Sgt. Robert "Bowe" Bergdahl on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, saying public comments by President Donald Trump and the late Sen.

What is Bowe Bergdahl doing in 2021?

In February 2021, Bergdahl filed a petition in federal court seeking to have his military conviction and sentence expunged.

Where does Bowe Bergdahl live?

Inside Hailey, Idaho - Bowe Bergdahl's Hometown.

Are there any POWS in Afghanistan?

The U.S. has achieved a historic first: There are now no U.S. military personnel held captive in Afghanistan. Bergdahl was the last POW.

Is deserting a war crime?

Attempted desertion also is charged as a military crime, as long as the attempt went beyond mere preparation. Desertion carries a maximum punishment of dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay, and confinement of five years.

What's it called when you abandon the Army?

Desertion is the abandonment of a military duty or post without permission (a pass, liberty or leave) and is done with the intention of not returning. This contrasts with unauthorized absence (UA) or absence without leave (AWOL /ˈeɪwɒl/), which are temporary forms of absence.

Who was the deserter in Afghanistan?

Sgt. Bowe BergdahlSgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the controversial soldier who abandoned his combat outpost in Afghanistan eight years ago and was swiftly captured by the Taliban, was punished Friday with a demotion and a dishonorable discharge. He received no prison time. The military judge presiding over the trial, Col.

What was the final sentence of Sergeant Bergdahl?

As the final sentence included a punitive (dishonorable) discharge , it was reviewed by the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals. After the sentencing, President Trump tweeted "The decision on Sergeant Bergdahl is a complete and total disgrace to our Country and to our Military.".

Where is Robert Bergdahl from?

Early life and education. Bergdahl was born in 1986 in Sun Valley, Idaho to Robert Bergdahl, a commercial truck driver, and his wife, Jani Larson Bergdahl. He is of Norwegian and Swedish ancestry.

What did Mike Rogers say about the Bergdahl exchange?

hostages". This sentiment was repeated by Congressmen Buck McKeon and James Inhofe, who released a joint statement saying that terrorists now have a "strong incentive" to capture more soldiers. Ted Poe, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, said the Bergdahl exchange appeared to violate the United States policy of not negotiating with terrorists. Anderson Cooper asked White House spokesman Jay Carney if it can "still be said that the United States does not negotiate with terrorists" to which Carney replied:

How many overseas bars did Bergdahl have?

As an infantryman who had engaged in combat with the enemy prior to his capture, Bergdahl was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and a total of ten overseas service bars for the five years he spent in the combat zone in Afghanistan.

Where was Bergdahl tried?

Bergdahl was tried by general court-martial on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, and on October 16, 2017, he entered a guilty plea before a military judge at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

When did Bergdahl escape?

In November 2010, Bergdahl appeared briefly in a fourth video. In May 2011, Bergdahl appeared briefly in a fifth video. In June 2010, Bergdahl managed to escape his captors but was recaptured after less than nine days.

Where did Bergdahl go to school?

In 2008, Bergdahl enlisted in the United States Army and graduated from the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Who is Bowe Bergdahl?

Bergdahl, 35, is a former US Army soldier held captive from 2009 to 2014 by the Taliban-aligned Haqqani network in Afghanistan and Pakistan after abandoning his post.

Where is Bowe Bergdahl today?

In February 2021, Bergdahl filed a petition in federal court seeking to have his military conviction and sentence expunged.

Who were the four Guantanomo detainees released in exchange for Bergdahl?

The four members of the so-called “Taliban Five” who have joined the new government are Acting Director of Intelligence Abdul Haq Wasiq, Acting Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs Norullah Noori, Deputy Defense Minister Mohammad Fazl, and Acting Minister of Information and Culture Khairullah Khairkhah.

Why did Bergdahl not face charges?

One of the reasons that Bergdahl did not face charges relates to witness testimony. In court, an Army general testified that jail time was not appropriate for Bergdahl. While at the hands of the enemy, Bergdahl experienced torture. He spent months locked to a bed and stuck in a cage.

What was Bergdahl's best decision?

One of the best decisions that Bergdahl’s lawyer may have made was the choice to hear the case in front of a military judge. If he wanted, the lawyer could have requested a trial by jury. However, that might have had a different outcome. In general, people seemed to vilify Bergdahl. A military judge was able to understand the situation and realize that Bergdahl was also a victim.

What did Bergdahl have before he enlisted in the army?

Before Bergdahl enlisted in the military, he had some issues of his own. As a child, he lived in a bad environment that caused him to develop social anxiety and cognitive issues. The soldier also has a diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder. Although the court felt that this did not affect Bergdahl’s choice to desert the military, it’a likely that it played a part in sentencing. Bergdahl also suffered from PTSD, which made him a less suitable candidate for the military.

Did Trump say Bergdahl was shot?

Although Trump was a vocal advocate against Bergdahl, Trump is part of the reason that the soldier is not behind bars. During the 2016 election campaign, Trump spoke about Bergdahl’s case. He claimed that Bergdahl deserved to be shot for his actions and called him a “dirty, rotten traitor.” Additionally, Trump implied that execution was an appropriate punishment.

What Happened to Bowe Bergdahl?

On June 30, 2009, Private Beaudry Robert “Bowe” Bergdahl went missing from Observation Post Mest in the Paktika province close to the Pakistani border. He had been deployed about five months prior. The initial speculation was that Bowe might have walked away of his own volition because he was disappointed with the war efforts in Afghanistan.

Where is Bowe Bergdahl Now?

In 2015, Bowe was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy and faced a possible life sentence. But instead, Bowe pleaded guilty to those charges in October 2017. He said, “I left my observation post on my own.

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Overview

Military investigation and court-martial

On June 16, 2014, the U.S. Army said that it had begun investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the disappearance and capture of Bergdahl in Afghanistan.
On June 25, 2014, the U.S. Army stated that there is "no evidence" that Bergdahl "engaged in any misconduct" during his years in captivity. The 2010 Pentagon investigation referred to above dealt with events leading up to his capture. In July 2014, Bergdahl was returned to active duty.

Early life and education

Bergdahl was born in 1986 in Sun Valley, Idaho to Robert Bergdahl, a commercial truck driver, and his wife, Jani Larson Bergdahl. He is of Norwegian and Swedish ancestry. He has an older sister, Sky Albrecht. Both Bergdahl and his sister were home schooled by their mother in Hailey, Idaho. The family attended Sovereign Redeemer Presbyterian Church, an Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
Bergdahl received a GED certificate through the College of Southern Idaho. As an adult, Bergdahl …

Military career

In 2006, Bergdahl entered basic training in the United States Coast Guard but was discharged after twenty-six days for psychological reasons, receiving an "uncharacterized discharge".
In 2008, Bergdahl enlisted in the United States Army and graduated from the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Captivity

Bergdahl walked away from his battalion on the night of June 30, 2009, at observation post (OP) Mest near the town of Yahya Kheyl in Paktika Province. Accounts of his capture differ. In a video, Bergdahl said he was captured when he fell behind on a patrol. Taliban sources allege he was ambushed after becoming drunk off base; U.S. military sources deny that claim, stating, "The Taliban are known for lying and what they are claiming [is] not true." A Department of Defense sp…

Release

On May 31, 2014, Bergdahl was released by his captors and recovered by Delta Force, a Special Mission Unit component of the Joint Special Operations Command in eastern Afghanistan. The release was brokered with the Taliban by the American, Qatari, and Afghan governments, in exchange for five Guantanamo Bay detainees transferred to Qatari custody for at least one year. At 10:30 a.m. (EDT) on May 31, 2014, Bergdahl was handed over by 18 Taliban members to a speci…

Military awards

As an infantryman who had engaged in combat with the enemy prior to his capture, Bergdahl was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and a total of 10 overseas service bars for the five years he spent in the combat zone in Afghanistan.
His awards and service ribbons include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, a…

External links

• Finding Bergdahl A five-part series on the search for Bergdahl in VICE magazine by Robert Young Pelton
• Transcript of Bergdahl's Article 32 hearing
• Serial Podcast An 11 part series released in the winter of 2015/16 investigating the motives and circumstances of this case.