Posted on Mar 6, 2016
Donald Trump gets interview request from Bergdahl defense attorney
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The defense attorneys for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl sent a letter Saturday to Donald Trump. They want an interview with the Republican presidential candidate, who has previously called their client a "no-good traitor who should have been executed."
"I request to interview you as soon as possible about your comments about Sergeant Bergdahl during frequent appearances in front of large audiences in advance of his court-martial," states the letter, signed by Bergdahl attorney Lt. Col. Franklin Rosenblatt. "Based on your personal knowledge of matters that are relevant to Sergeant Bergdahl’s right to a fair trial, this interview will help us determine whether to seek a deposition ... or your personal appearance as a witness ..."
Bergdahl disappeared from Combat Outpost Mest-Lalak in Paktika province, Afghanistan, on June 30, 2009. He has been accused of leaving his patrol base alone and intentionally before he was captured by Taliban insurgents.
He spent five years as a captive under the Taliban before he was freed in a controversial May 31, 2014, prisoner swap that also freed five Taliban leaders from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Bergdahl is now assigned to a desk job at U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
He was charged on March 25 with one count of desertion with intent to shirk important or hazardous duty, and one count of misbehavior before the enemy by endangering the safety of a command, unit or place.
Rosenblatt said the interview should last fewer than two hours. "I will try to keep it as short as possible in light of your busy schedule," Rosenblatt said.
Another Bergdahl attorney, Eugene Fidell, has said Trump's comments could interfere with Bergdahl's case.
“This is the lowest kind of demagoguery,” Fidell told Army Times last year, in response to repeated remarks from Trump that Bergdahl was a traitor. “Mr. Trump’s comments are contemptible and un-American. They are a call for mob justice.”
A request for comment from Trump's campaign was not immediately returned.
"I request to interview you as soon as possible about your comments about Sergeant Bergdahl during frequent appearances in front of large audiences in advance of his court-martial," states the letter, signed by Bergdahl attorney Lt. Col. Franklin Rosenblatt. "Based on your personal knowledge of matters that are relevant to Sergeant Bergdahl’s right to a fair trial, this interview will help us determine whether to seek a deposition ... or your personal appearance as a witness ..."
Bergdahl disappeared from Combat Outpost Mest-Lalak in Paktika province, Afghanistan, on June 30, 2009. He has been accused of leaving his patrol base alone and intentionally before he was captured by Taliban insurgents.
He spent five years as a captive under the Taliban before he was freed in a controversial May 31, 2014, prisoner swap that also freed five Taliban leaders from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Bergdahl is now assigned to a desk job at U.S. Army North at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
He was charged on March 25 with one count of desertion with intent to shirk important or hazardous duty, and one count of misbehavior before the enemy by endangering the safety of a command, unit or place.
Rosenblatt said the interview should last fewer than two hours. "I will try to keep it as short as possible in light of your busy schedule," Rosenblatt said.
Another Bergdahl attorney, Eugene Fidell, has said Trump's comments could interfere with Bergdahl's case.
“This is the lowest kind of demagoguery,” Fidell told Army Times last year, in response to repeated remarks from Trump that Bergdahl was a traitor. “Mr. Trump’s comments are contemptible and un-American. They are a call for mob justice.”
A request for comment from Trump's campaign was not immediately returned.
Donald Trump gets interview request from Bergdahl defense attorney
Posted from armytimes.comPosted in these groups: 
Politics
Donald Trump
Politics Donald Trump
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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Bergdhal nope no idea. I mean I know that soldier who striped his armor and weapons slipped out of the wire abondoning his post was last seen speaking to local population seeking Al Qaeda operatives. I know about the deserter who got soldiers killed who were seeking him. There is a question he collaborated and gave intelligence but that is speculation. That Bergdhal should be taken back to Iraq and executed as a deserter and sympathizer. Just my opinion but if your facts are different please share.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
MSG David Chappell well said and articulately conveyed! I agree whole-heartily.
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I see this as a stretch by the defense attorneys. Trump while wrong, shouldn't be the end all be all of this case. If they're worried that his speeches could give issues in court, then why not call everyone on FB,Twitter, Blog Writers, everyone on RP, congress and their aides, and our grandmothers for talks. Everyone has said something about this man. Just accept that he did what he did, caused six lives to be lost so he could play stupid games.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
"Scope of influence" and the ability to "sway the case."
When a General makes comments about a pending case it has significantly more effect than a private or even an NCO. We've seen how even the "perception' of Command Influence can taint a court case.
Although Mr. Trump is not in Command, he is running for a position which is. We go from B&W concepts to very Gray.
When a General makes comments about a pending case it has significantly more effect than a private or even an NCO. We've seen how even the "perception' of Command Influence can taint a court case.
Although Mr. Trump is not in Command, he is running for a position which is. We go from B&W concepts to very Gray.
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SSG Warren Swan
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS - Good point, but he's going to be judged by a panel of his "peers". I hope they really aren't his peers or they'd all be draft dodgers or deserters from today. But no matter who you are, if you're military or have served, you know this case. So to get a fair and unbiased set of Jurors is crazy to think, and ignorant to believe. I know the judicial system should be allowed to do it's thing, but in his case, his actions with the media, along with constant speaking by those who were in his PLT WILL taint damn near anyone. So Trump while running for CINC, he's a low hanging fruit. The media Bergdhal talked to, the fact it was released, and the sheer amount of coverage this has gotten kills any argument the defense can raise. I'm not sure if you have the ability to go for a Judge only trial, but I'd go there before having a panel decide for me in this case. This case to me is the Titanic for his defense lawyers.
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Wait Bergdhal you mean that deserter we traded 5 top terrorists for? I mean someone someone explain I thought our stance was "don't negotiate with terrorists"?
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