United States District Judge Reggie Walton has overturned Bowe Bergdahl’s court martial conviction and his dishonorable discharge as well as all other punitive sanctions.
This creates a rather interesting situation. With his dishonorable discharge vacated, it is effectively as if Bergdahl was in the Army, on active duty, this whole time and he will need to report to the nearest Army facility as an active duty soldier. It also means he will get back his forfeited pay AND all the money he is owed for the last several years, at the E-5 Sergeant rate of pay.
I think the Army will simply try to cut its losses and get rid of him again, but via a general discharge under other than honorable circumstances. I don’t think they will try to court-martial him again at this late date, though it is not entirely out of the question.
If you employ the search function, you will find that the word Trump occurs 72 times in the decision.
This is exactly why President’s and Presidential candidates are NOT supposed to talk about individual cases.
The presiding judge in the case had applied for a job as an immigration judge, but did not disclose this fact to the defense. Immigration is under Justice, which is under the President. Meaning that an applicant would have a strong desire to get on the incoming President’s good side. Trump publicly castigated Bergdahl.
2+2=4
Bergdahl’s conviction falls for conflict of interest.
Of course, Judge Walton’s decision is correct on the merits.
But it is disgusting to see that this piece of ■■■■ will get a massive payout for work he will never perform, because a military judge was unethical and Trump could not keep his trap shut.
Bergdahl committed more treason than anyone in January 6th, and actually got dozens of people killed trying to help the Taliban, and he walks free, but let’s throw the book at Trump by god!
