BREAKING NEWS: Army Times says Desertion Charge Rumor UNTRUE
According to the ArmyTimes, the information being discussed on multiple media sources is untrue. According to Rear Adm. John Kirby who is the Pentagon Press Secretary, “Sgt. Berghdahl has not been charged with any crime.” This includes the charge of desertion.
On Fox New, retired Lt. Col. Tony Schaffer stated that his sources had confirmed to him that Bergdahl’s lawyer had been given a charge sheet. That is the first step in charges being filed and a military trial set. However, a spokesman for Forces Command, Paul Boyce, said that no charge sheets had been issued and that the Fox News story “seems to be speculative in nature.” NBC News also cited an anonymous senior defense official as saying a desertion charge was coming.
The Army has declined to release any information about the six month long investigation into the disappearance of Sgt. Bergdahl from his post in Afghanistan. Bergdahl has been assigned to a desk job with Joint Base San Antonio at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, since his return to the states following his release from the Taliban.
The White House has been accused of pressuring the military to overlook any harm done by Bergdahls decision to abandon his post. Some members of Bergdahls former platoon insist he deserted and placed them all in greater danger. The case will certainly be a difficult one to fairly prosecute given the Obama administration violated the law to release terrorist prisoners in exchange for Bergdahl, without the consent of Congress. It would be a major blow to Obama if Sgt. Bergdahl is charged and found guilty of desertion.
