Tipsheet

Bowe Bergdahl to Face Court Martial

Gen. Robert B. Abrams, head of Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, N.C. has ordered that Bowe Bergdahl face court martial.

This means, that if convicted, Bergdahl could face a life sentence in United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth.  

Bergdahl faces charges of desertion and endangering troops after leaving his outpost in 2009, which led to a massive manhunt in eastern Afghanistan.  He spent nearly five years in Taliban captivity and was traded for five GITMO prisoners, known as the Taliban Five.  

Bergdahl's defense team argues that he is only guilty of going AWOL for one day, since he was captured hours after deserting his post.  

“For 45 days, thousands of soldiers toiled in the heat, dirt, misery and sweat with almost no rest, little water and little food to find the accused,” Major Kurz, Army prosecutor said.