Politics

Report: Bowe Bergdahl To Be Charged With Desertion [VIDEO]

Alex Griswold Media Reporter
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Appearing on “The O’Reilly Factor” Monday night, retired Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer told host Bill O’Reilly that two separate military sources have confirmed that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban and traded for five senior Taliban operatives, will be charged with desertion.

“Bill, The Army has come to its conclusion,” Shaffer said, “and Bowe Bergdahl, Sergeant Bergdahl, will be charged with desertion.” (RELATED: Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl Has Hired An Attorney)

“I’ve been told by two other sources that his attorney was given what we call a ‘charge sheet,'” he continued, “A charge sheet is essentially the results of an investigation listing out the articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice that have been violated. The key violation is desertion.”

Shaffer likewise claimed that the White House was waging a “huge battle” to suppress the information, spearheaded by Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes. “The White House, because of the political narrative, President Obama cozying up to the parents and because of he, President Obama, releasing the five Taliban. … The narrative is what the White House does not want to have come out.” (VIDEO: Napolitano: Did Obama ‘Provide Material Assistance To A Terrorist Organization?’)

Bergdahl was the subject of intense media scrutiny last year after several of his former battalion members accused the then-Private First Class of deserting his post the day he was captured by the Taliban. “Bowe Bergdahl deserted during a time of war and his fellow Americans lost their lives searching for him,” one of his fellow soldiers said. “I don’t understand why we’re trading prisoners at Gitmo for somebody who deserted during a time of war, which is an act of treason.”