Bergdahl chooses trial by judge instead of jury

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who is accused of desertion during his posting in Afghanistan in 2009, has chosen to have a trial by judge, rather than a military jury, according to a court filing.

Bergdahl’s lawyers voiced his preference in a court filing from last week. 

The development was first reported by the Associated Press.

{mosads}Bergdahl was captured by the Taliban in 2009 after he walked off his post in Afghanistan. 

The Obama administration secured his release from the Taliban in exchange for five detainees who were released to Qatar, a controversial deal that was widely questioned in Congress.

President Trump took to lambasting Bergdahl when he was a 2016 presidential candidate, labeling him as a “dirty, rotten traitor” and suggesting he should be executed. 

Bergdahl demanded the dismissal of his case in January, citing Trump’s rhetoric. 

Stars and Stripes reported in June that lawyers representing Bergdahl had asked potential jurors in the case if they had voted for Trump. 

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