Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 4 November 2017

Bergdahl spared from prison; Trump calls sentence ‘disgrace’

injuries,” Fidell added. The defense tried to
Trump’s statement came in counter that evidence
a tweet about 90 minutes with testimony about
after the sentencing. Bergdahl’s suffering as a
“The decision on Sergeant captive, his contributions
Bergdahl is a complete to military intelligence and
and total disgrace to survival training, and his
our Country and to our mental health problems.
Military,” the president The argument for leniency
wrote. also cited Trump’s harsh
Bergdahl pleaded guilty campaign-trail comments.
last month to desertion The dishonorable
and misbehavior before discharge threatens
the enemy. to deprive Bergdahl of
He has said he left his most or all his veterans’
post in 2009 with the benefits, but it also triggers
intention of reaching other an automatic appeal to
commanders and drawing a higher military court.
attention to what he saw Before that, a general
as problems with his unit. who can reduce, but not
The judge, Army Col. increase, the sentence will
Jeffery Nance, had also review it.
wide leeway in deciding Fidell told reporters that
Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, right, leaves the Fort Bragg courtroom facility as the judge deliber- the sentence because he looks forward to the
ates during a sentencing hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C., Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Bergdahl was spared a Bergdahl made no deal appeals court review
prison sentence by a military judge Friday. with prosecutors to limit his of Trump’s campaign
(AP Photo/Gerry Broome) punishment. statements, which
Continued from Front patted him on the back. client had “looked forward Prosecutors sought a included calling Bergdahl
In court, Bergdahl One defense attorney to today for a long time.” serious penalty because of a “dirty, rotten traitor” and
appeared tense, grimaced cried after the sentence Bergdahl “is grateful to wounds suffered by service declaring that he should
and clenched his jaw. was announced. everyone who searched members who searched be shot or thrown out of
His attorneys put their Defense lawyer Eugene for him,” especially those for Bergdahl after he an airplane without a
arms around him and one Fidell told reporters that his who “heroically sustained disappeared. parachute. q