Court reviewing Bergdahl case over Trump, McCain comments interference

[Elderberry]

American Military News by Ryan Morgan 11/7/2019

United States Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s legal team wants to appeal Bergdahl’s conviction for abandoning his post, arguing comments by then-presidential candidate Donald Trump swayed the legal proceedings against him.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ruled Monday it will give Bergdahl’s team a chance to appeal his case on grounds that public comments by Trump and the late Sen. John McCain caused undue influence to find Bergdahl guilty, Fox News reported. Bergdahl avoided prison time but was given a dishonorable discharge and sentenced in November 2017 to the reduced rank of private and ordered to forfeit $10,000 in pay.

During the initial court case, Trump tweeted Bergdahl was a “no-good traitor who should have been executed” for deserting his unit. Prior to Trump’s comments, McCain also warned in a 2015 statement that his Senate committee would hold hearings to review the handling of the Bergdahl case if the soldier was not ultimately convicted.

Bergdahl’s defense attorney, Eugene Fidell, argued that Trump and McCain’s remarks were so inflammatory they cost Bergdahl a fair trial.

More: https://americanmilitarynews.com/2019/11/court-reviewing-bergdahl-case-over-trump-mccain-comments-interference/

[PeteS in CA]

Due to the timing of Trump's remarks, I don't think them material. OTOH, McCain was a sitting Senator and threatened specific Congressional action if the verdict were other than guilty. Since Bergdahl isn't disputing the facts of the case, I hope the Court of Appeals finds that the judge was not a sheeple. FWIW, Bergdahl pled guilty.