The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 06:33 PM

Bergdahl Should Spend Rest Of His Life In Prison As Both A Coward and Traitor

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl is expected on Monday to plead guilty to charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.

Army veteran Pete Hegseth said Bergdahl - who endangered comrades by walking away from a remote post in Afghanistan in 2009 - should receive a sentence of life in prison.

On "Fox & Friends First," Hegseth explained that six U.S. soldiers were killed searching for Bergdahl and many others were wounded.

He added that five terrorists were released to the Taliban in exchange for Bergdahl, which he said endangers U.S. soldiers by setting a dangerous precedent of exchanging hostages.

Hegseth said that the misbehavior before the enemy charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, while the desertion charge is punishable by up to five years.

"You don't want a Bowe Bergdahl ever walking free in light of what he's done," he said. "It is a price that Bowe Bergdahl charged our entire country. The least he can do is serve behind bars for the rest of his life."

Hegseth said that many in the military actually believe that Bergdahl should face the death penalty.

"This is a treasonous act," Hegseth said, explaining that many people believe Bergdahl abandoned his post to search for the Taliban.

He said it remains to be seen if Bergdahl is pleading guilty as part of a plea deal or if he is doing so in hopes leniency in the sentencing.

In either scenario, his punishment won't be known until after the judge holds the sentencing hearing that's expected to start on October 23.

The Five Taliban The U.S. Exchanged Bergdahl For

The Six Men Who Died Looking For Bergdahl