The long, sad tale of Bowe Bergdahl take a step closer towards conclusion, today, when the Army sergeant goes before a military judge to plead guilty to charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
“This is a no brainer. The evidence is overwhelming that he indeed deserted his post during a time of war and that he indeed misbehaved before the enemy, as that’s described,” former military lawyer Jeff Addicott, who now heads the Center for Terrorism Law at St. Mary's University, tells Newsradio 1200 WOAI.
Sgt. Bergdahl’s problems began nearly one decade ago when he vanished from his post in Afghanistan. He was captured by the Taliban and, at age 23, was held captive for five years. In May 2014, he was freed in exchange for five Taliban detainees, who were locked up in Guantanamo Bay, and deposited at San Antonio’s Ft. Sam Houston, which is still his duty station.
At the time, the exchanged was viewed as controversial at the time due to the debate about negotiating with hostage takers. It even bled over to the presidential campaign, when then-candidate Donald Trump said that "in the good old days, he would have been executed."
Former President Barack Obama stood with Bergdahl’s parents in the White House Rose Garden and defended the swap, but refused to pardon him before leaving office.
Addicott, who heads St. Mary’s Center for Terrorism Law, says the Misbehavior Before the Enemy charge is the more serious of the two, and carries a life sentence.
It’s likely, though, that the punishment will be less, thanks to a plea deal. And, he says, if it feels like this story has been going on a long time, you’re right.
“It’s unusual, the amount of time it took to matriculate this individual through criminal justice system,” he explains.Sentencing expected to start Oct. 23.