Judge allows Bergdahl lawyers to get top generals’ emails
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A military judge agreed Thursday to give Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl access to emails from several top commanders as defence attorneys probe for evidence of whether his prosecution on charges of desertion and misbehaviour before the enemy was unfairly swayed by high-ranking officials.
The judge, Col. Jeffery Nance, ordered the government to give defence attorneys emails regarding the case that were sent and received by the head of U.S. Army Forces Command and his predecessor, along with communications by others involved in decisions about how Bergdahl’s case has been handled.
Nance also “strongly suggested” that prosecutors help defence attorneys arrange an interview with Gen. Robert Abrams, the four-star leader of Forces Command who decided in December to proceed with the general court martial. Abrams declined a defence request for an interview in June.
“They need to be able to sit down with him and ask him some pointed questions,” Nance said during the pretrial hearing.