Platoon leader describes shock at Bergdahl's disappearance, Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's advantageous administrator if the Idaho built-in vanished from his column in Afghanistan six years ago testified Thursday that he anticipation his soldiers were arena a antic on him if they told him that Bergdahl had gone missing.
Speaking at the alpha of an Article 32 audition to actuate if Bergdahl should face a aggressive balloon on abrogation and added charges, Capt. John Billings said that if he accomplished they were cogent the truth, he was "in shock, complete absolute atheism that I couldn't acquisition one of my own men. That's a harder affair to swallow," he told the aggressive prosecutor, Maj. Margaret Kurz.
Kurz declared that Bergdahl had planned for weeks to carelessness his column and that there was abundant affirmation to accreditation that the Idaho built-in face a court-martial.
"Under the awning of darkness, he snuck off the post," Kurz told the administrator authoritative over the hearing.
Bergdahl, who spent 5 years as a Taliban bound afore getting exchanged for 5 Taliban commanders getting captivated by the U.S., took addendum throughout the proceedings, which could endure several days. If asked if by the authoritative administrator if he accepted the charges, he said "Yes sir."
Before the alpha of the hearing, which is demography abode at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, area Bergdahl has been stationed back abiding to the U.S. endure year, acknowledged experts said they accepted Bergdahl's attorneys to altercate that he suffered abundant during his years in captivity.
Before dematerialization from his column in southeastern Afghanistan on June 30, 2009, Bergdahl had bidding action to the war in accepted and misgivings about his own role in it.
His advance attorney, Eugene Fidell, has cited an Army analysis that bent Bergdahl larboard his post, but not the Army, and that his "specific absorbed was to accompany what he anticipation were advancing affairs to the absorption of the abutting accepted officer."
Fidell said he affairs to alarm witnesses, but he beneath to say whether Bergdahl would be a part of them or to acknowledge added data about his strategy.
Officials say the Taliban captured Bergdahl afterwards he larboard his post. Afterwards he was exchanged for the 5 Taliban prisoners who were getting captivated at the U.S. apprehension centermost at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Bergdahl was answerable with abrogation and misbehavior afore the enemy. If bedevilled of the misbehavior charge, he could face up to activity in a aggressive prison. He could aswell be dishonorably discharged, bargain in rank and fabricated to cost all pay.
Some associates of Bergdahl's above assemblage accept alleged for austere punishment, alleging that some account associates died analytic for him.
While the Pentagon has said there is no affirmation anyone died analytic for Bergdahl, acknowledged experts say the misbehavior allegation allows authorities to adduce his accomplishments put soldiers who searched for him in harm's way.
Billings, Bergdahl's army leader, said the seek for Bergdahl lasted from the day he went missing until the end of that August and that it was grueling, generally involving little blow and temperatures in the top 90s.
Fidell has bidding affair that abrogating publicity that has been awful analytical of Bergdahl could access how the case is resolved. The GOP and some Democrats accept continued criticized the captive bandy as politically motivated and a arrant corruption of U.S. action adjoin negotiating with terrorists.
Among those who accept criticized Bergdahl accept been GOP presidential applicant Donald Trump, who has again alleged Bergdahl a traitor.
"I'm not traveling to adorn Mr. Trump's comments any added than I have," Fidell said. "The bulk of corruption to which (Bergdahl) has been subjected to in the blogosphere and abroad apropos me greatly."
Eric Carpenter, a law assistant at Florida International University who aswell formed as a aggressive attorney, said he expects Fidell will focus on arguing that the accuse should not be referred to a court-martial, presenting affirmation of how difficult it was for Bergdahl while in captivity.
He said Fidell ability altercate that Bergdahl should be accustomed an "other than atonement discharge" and be accustomed to go home.
Larry Youngner, a Washington, D.C.-based advocate who specializes in aggressive law, said he believes there is a "very able case" by the prosecution.
"We can't accept soldiers abandoning their posts in a action area during a time of war," said Youngner. "This is a badly austere offense."
The Article 32 audition will aftereffect in a address that will be forwarded to Gen. Robert Abrams, the advantageous accepted of U.S. Army Forces Command. Abrams will adjudge whether the case should be referred to a court-martial or is bound in addition manner.
Speaking at the alpha of an Article 32 audition to actuate if Bergdahl should face a aggressive balloon on abrogation and added charges, Capt. John Billings said that if he accomplished they were cogent the truth, he was "in shock, complete absolute atheism that I couldn't acquisition one of my own men. That's a harder affair to swallow," he told the aggressive prosecutor, Maj. Margaret Kurz.
Kurz declared that Bergdahl had planned for weeks to carelessness his column and that there was abundant affirmation to accreditation that the Idaho built-in face a court-martial.
"Under the awning of darkness, he snuck off the post," Kurz told the administrator authoritative over the hearing.
Bergdahl, who spent 5 years as a Taliban bound afore getting exchanged for 5 Taliban commanders getting captivated by the U.S., took addendum throughout the proceedings, which could endure several days. If asked if by the authoritative administrator if he accepted the charges, he said "Yes sir."
Before the alpha of the hearing, which is demography abode at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, area Bergdahl has been stationed back abiding to the U.S. endure year, acknowledged experts said they accepted Bergdahl's attorneys to altercate that he suffered abundant during his years in captivity.
Before dematerialization from his column in southeastern Afghanistan on June 30, 2009, Bergdahl had bidding action to the war in accepted and misgivings about his own role in it.
His advance attorney, Eugene Fidell, has cited an Army analysis that bent Bergdahl larboard his post, but not the Army, and that his "specific absorbed was to accompany what he anticipation were advancing affairs to the absorption of the abutting accepted officer."
Fidell said he affairs to alarm witnesses, but he beneath to say whether Bergdahl would be a part of them or to acknowledge added data about his strategy.
Officials say the Taliban captured Bergdahl afterwards he larboard his post. Afterwards he was exchanged for the 5 Taliban prisoners who were getting captivated at the U.S. apprehension centermost at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Bergdahl was answerable with abrogation and misbehavior afore the enemy. If bedevilled of the misbehavior charge, he could face up to activity in a aggressive prison. He could aswell be dishonorably discharged, bargain in rank and fabricated to cost all pay.
Some associates of Bergdahl's above assemblage accept alleged for austere punishment, alleging that some account associates died analytic for him.
While the Pentagon has said there is no affirmation anyone died analytic for Bergdahl, acknowledged experts say the misbehavior allegation allows authorities to adduce his accomplishments put soldiers who searched for him in harm's way.
Billings, Bergdahl's army leader, said the seek for Bergdahl lasted from the day he went missing until the end of that August and that it was grueling, generally involving little blow and temperatures in the top 90s.
Fidell has bidding affair that abrogating publicity that has been awful analytical of Bergdahl could access how the case is resolved. The GOP and some Democrats accept continued criticized the captive bandy as politically motivated and a arrant corruption of U.S. action adjoin negotiating with terrorists.
Among those who accept criticized Bergdahl accept been GOP presidential applicant Donald Trump, who has again alleged Bergdahl a traitor.
"I'm not traveling to adorn Mr. Trump's comments any added than I have," Fidell said. "The bulk of corruption to which (Bergdahl) has been subjected to in the blogosphere and abroad apropos me greatly."
Eric Carpenter, a law assistant at Florida International University who aswell formed as a aggressive attorney, said he expects Fidell will focus on arguing that the accuse should not be referred to a court-martial, presenting affirmation of how difficult it was for Bergdahl while in captivity.
He said Fidell ability altercate that Bergdahl should be accustomed an "other than atonement discharge" and be accustomed to go home.
Larry Youngner, a Washington, D.C.-based advocate who specializes in aggressive law, said he believes there is a "very able case" by the prosecution.
"We can't accept soldiers abandoning their posts in a action area during a time of war," said Youngner. "This is a badly austere offense."
The Article 32 audition will aftereffect in a address that will be forwarded to Gen. Robert Abrams, the advantageous accepted of U.S. Army Forces Command. Abrams will adjudge whether the case should be referred to a court-martial or is bound in addition manner.
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