Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to face hearing for desertion charges

A hearing is scheduled Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

He was freed in a prisoner swap that sent five Taliban leaders who were being held at Guantanamo to Qatar, where they had to remain for a year.

A hearing has begun to determine if Sgt.

Bergdahl is facing desertion charges. Bergdahl wanted to “bring what he thought were disturbing circumstances to the attention of the nearest general officer”, he says.

It could be the first time we hear Bergdahl’s version of events which led to his capture in Afghanistan and five years in Taliban captivity.

Corn said Army prosecutors may not have to show anything more than evidence that Bergdahl’s abandonment of his post created a potential danger for all US soldiers in the area, as well as any engaged in rescue attempts.

It also is possible that army prosecutors and Bergdahl’s lawyers will work out a plea bargain deal, whereby the soldier would relieve the military court of carrying out a long trial in exchange for a guilty plea and a moderate punishment. U.S. military radio intercepts of conversations between insurgents that were later released by WikiLeaks reported that the Taliban said they captured Bergdahl while he was squatting, going to the latrine.

Officials allege in June 30, 2009 Bergdahl intentionally walked off his outpost in eastern Afghanistan eventually ending up in extremists’ hands.

Some members of Bergdahl’s former unit have said he should be severely punished, claiming that six soldiers died, directly or indirectly, as part of search efforts. Bowe Bergdahl, who was held…

Fidell has expressed concern that negative publicity which has been highly critical of Bergdahl could influence how the case is resolved.

He said Fidell might argue that Bergdahl should be given something called an “other than honorable discharge” and be allowed to go home. “Period. Full stop. We don’t condition that”, he said at the time. “This is a hugely serious offense”.

The preliminary hearing officer’s report will be forwarded to Gen. Robert Abrams, the commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.