Current:Home > FinanceJudge vacates desertion conviction for former US soldier captured in Afghanistan-LoTradeCoin
Judge vacates desertion conviction for former US soldier captured in Afghanistan
View Date:2024-12-24 09:40:54
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday vacated the military conviction of Bowe Bergdahl, a former U.S. Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after he left his post and was captured in Afghanistan and tortured by the Taliban.
The ruling from U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton in Washington says that military judge Jeffrey Nance, who presided over the court-martial, failed to disclose that he had applied to the executive branch for a job as an immigration judge, creating a potential conflict of interest.
Walton noted that former President Donald Trump had strongly criticized Bergdahl during the 2016 presidential campaign. Bergdahl’s lawyers argued that Trump’s comments placed undue command influence on Nance.
Other news Rockies place outfielder Kris Bryant on 10-day injured list with fractured finger The Colorado Rockies placed outfielder Kris Bryant on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left index finger. The team said the move is retroactive to Saturday. Small funnel cloud over US Capitol turns into viral photo Observant visitors to the area around the U.S. Capitol building on Tuesday afternoon were treated to a unusual sight: an unmistakable funnel cloud extending diagonally from the sky and seemingly almost reaching the tip of the Capitol dome itself. Oklahoma attorney general joins lawsuit over tribal gambling agreements, criticizes GOP governor Oklahoma’s new Republican attorney general says he’s stepping into an ongoing legal dispute over tribal gambling agreements signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt several years ago. DeSantis cuts a third of his presidential campaign staff as he mounts urgent reset Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis is cutting far more campaign staff than previously thought as he works to reset his stumbling campaign amid unexpected financial trouble.Walton rejected the specific argument surrounding undue command influence, but he said a reasonable person could question the judge’s impartiality under the circumstances.
Bergdahl was charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy after the then-23-year-old from Hailey, Idaho, left his post in Afghanistan in 2009. He said he was trying to get outside his post so he could report what he saw as poor leadership within his unit, but he was abducted by the Taliban and held captive for nearly five years.
During that time, Bergdahl was repeatedly tortured and beaten with copper wires, rubber hoses and rifle butts. After several escape attempts, he was imprisoned in a small cage for four years, according to court documents.
Several U.S. servicemembers were wounded searching for Bergdahl. In 2014, he was returned to the U.S. in a prisoner swap for five Taliban leaders who were being held at Guantanamo Bay.
The swap faced criticism from Trump, then-Sen. John McCain and others. Both Trump and McCain called for Bergdahl to face severe punishment.
In 2017, he pleaded guilty to both charges. Prosecutors at his court-martial sought 14 years in prison, but he was given no time after he submitted evidence of the torture he suffered while in Taliban custody. He was dishonorably discharged and ordered to forfeit $10,000 in pay.
His conviction and sentence had been narrowly upheld by military appeals courts before his lawyers took the case to U.S. District Court, resulting in Tuesday’s ruling.
The Justice Department declined comment on the ruling Tuesday.
Eugene Fidell, one of Bergdahl’s lawyers, said he was gratified by the ruling and said Walton’s 63-page opinion shows how meticulous he was in rendering the ruling.
Calls and emails to the immigration court in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Nance now serves as an immigration judge, were not returned Tuesday evening.
veryGood! (61454)
Related
- Democrat George Whitesides wins election to US House, beating incumbent Mike Garcia
- Indiana legislators send bill addressing childcare costs to governor
- Medical examiner says two Wisconsin inmates died of fentanyl overdose, stroke
- NYC man who dismembered woman watched Dexter for tips on covering up crime, federal prosecutors say
- Bowl projections: SEC teams joins College Football Playoff field
- Microsoft engineer sounds alarm on AI image-generator to US officials and company’s board
- Shake Shack giving away free sandwiches Monday based on length of Oscars telecast: What to know
- Tesla's Giga Berlin plant in Germany shut down by suspected arson fire
- Detroit-area police win appeal over liability in death of woman in custody
- Chicago’s top cop says police are getting training to manage protests during the DNC
Ranking
- 2 credit unions in Mississippi and Louisiana are planning to merge
- NYC man who dismembered woman watched Dexter for tips on covering up crime, federal prosecutors say
- The Daily Money: A landmark discrimination case revisited
- Maryland abortion clinics could get money for security under bill in state Senate
- Will Trump curb transgender rights? After election, community prepares for worst
- Mississippi House votes to change school funding formula, but plan faces hurdles in the Senate
- Which streamer will target password sharing next? The former HBO Max looks ready to make its play
- American Express card data exposed in third-party breach
Recommendation
-
3 Iraqis tortured at Abu Ghraib win $42M judgement against defense contractor
-
Alyssa Naeher makes 3 saves and scores in penalty shootout to lift USWNT over Canada
-
California’s closely watched House primaries offer preview of battle to control Congress
-
Can AI help me pack? Tips for using ChatGPT, other chatbots for daily tasks
-
Judith Jamison, acclaimed Alvin Ailey American dancer and director, dead at 81
-
Show stopper: Rare bird sighting prompts Fountains of Bellagio to pause shows Tuesday
-
Exclusive: What's driving Jim Harbaugh in NFL return? Chargers coach opens up on title chase
-
Uvalde City Council to release investigation of the police response to 2022 school massacre