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UP FRONTWednesday 23 December
Bergdahl appears in military court
JONATHAN DREW a military trial that could re- short hearing on charges of
Associated Press sult in a life sentence for his desertion and misbehavior
FORT BRAGG, North Car- disappearance in Afghani- before the enemy, a rela-
olina (AP) — Sgt. Bowe stan in 2009. tively rare charge that car-
Bergdahl faced a military Bergdahl, who was held by ries the severe punishment.
judge Tuesday for the first the Taliban for five years If convicted of desertion,
time since the U.S. Army after he walked off a base, he could get up to five
decided to proceed with was arraigned during a years in prison.
U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl leaves the courthouse Tuesday,
Dec. 22, 2015, after his arraignment hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C.
(Andrew Craft /The Fayetteville Observer/AP)
Wearing a dress blue uni- change.
form, Bergdahl deferred A preliminary hearing offi-
entering a plea and did cer initially recommended
not decide whether he a special court-martial,
wants to face a court- which is a misdemeanor-
martial with a jury or one level forum. But earlier
with just a judge. He said this month, the Army an-
little beyond answering nounced Bergdahl would
“yes” and “no” to ques- face the more serious gen-
tions about whether he un- eral court-martial.
derstood his rights and the While the military typically
court proceedings. follows the recommenda-
He appeared demure, sit- tion from the preliminary
ting mostly still in his chair hearing known as an Ar-
then walking deliberately ticle 32, it’s not unheard of
with his head down as he for a high-ranking general
left the courtroom. He talk- to make a different deci-
ed quietly with his military sion, said Walter Huffman,
attorney before and after a retired major general
the hearing. who served as the Army’s
The next pretrial hearing top lawyer.
was scheduled for Jan. 12 Huffman was surprised the
before Army Judge Col. more serious general court-
Jeffery R. Nance, who will martial was chosen, but he
preside over future hear- said the approach will al-
ings. Bergdahl, 29, walked low the court to thoroughly
off his post in eastern Af- consider the case with all
ghanistan’s Paktika prov- punishments available.
ince on June 30, 2009. He “It’s kind of: ‘Let’s let the
was released in late May system decide. Let’s keep
2014 as part of a prisoner our options open,’” he
swap, in exchange for five said.
detainees in Guantanamo The charge of misbehav-
Bay. The move prompted ior before the enemy was
harsh criticism, with some used hundreds of times
in Congress accusing Presi- during World War II, but
dent Barack Obama of scholars say its use ap-
jeopardizing the safety of pears to have dwindled in
the country with the ex- conflicts since then.q
