After a military judge announced that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will not serve time in prison for deserting his military outpost in Afghanistan in 2009, President Trump criticized the ruling, which he characterized as “a complete and total disgrace to our Country and to our Military.”
The decision on Sergeant Bergdahl is a complete and total disgrace to our Country and to our Military.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2017
Trump, however, is partly responsible for Bergdahl’s relatively light sentence (he faced up to life imprisonment). The judge presiding over the case, Col. Jeffery R. Nance of the Army, said during a hearing late last month that Trump’s public comments about the case would be treated as “mitigation evidence.”
“I will consider the president’s comments as mitigation evidence as I arrive at an appropriate sentence,” Nance said, adding that Trump’s remarks would weigh in favor of lighter punishment.
Trump has repeatedly attacked Berghahl over the years, as well as the deal the Obama administration struck to bring him back to the United States after he was captured by the Taliban and held captive for five years.
President Obama created a VERY BAD precedent by handing over five Taliban prisoners in exchange for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Another U.S. loss!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 1, 2014
On the campaign trail, Trump called for Bergdahl’s execution on numerous occasoins. During a rally in October 2015, Trump told a cheering crowd, “We’re tired of Sgt. Bergdahl, who’s a traitor, a no-good traitor, who should have been executed.”
“30 years ago, he would have been shot,” Trump added.
A few weeks later, Trump said a firing squad should’ve been used to execute Bergdahl, saying, “In the old days when we were strong and wise, we [would] shoot a guy like that.”
Asked if he stood by his comments about Bergdahl last month, Trump indicated he did.
“They’re setting up sentencing, so I’m not going to comment on him. But I think people have heard my comments in the past,” he said.
Bergdahl told a British filmmaker last year that he believed it would be impossible to receive a fair trial if Trump were elected.
“We may as well go back to kangaroo courts and lynch mobs that got what they wanted,” Bergdahl said. “The people who want to hang me; you’re never going to convince those people.”
Trump’s tweet about Bergdahl isn’t the only time he’s complained that someone isn’t being treated harshly enough by the justice system this week. On Wednesday and Thursday, Trump repeatedly called for the execution of the suspect alleged to be responsible for an attack in New York City that killed eight people, despite the fact he hasn’t received a trial yet.
NYC terrorist was happy as he asked to hang ISIS flag in his hospital room. He killed 8 people, badly injured 12. SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017
…There is also something appropriate about keeping him in the home of the horrible crime he committed. Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017
During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump — who has previously called for the execution of people who were later exonerated — called the American justice system a “laughingstock.”
“We need quick justice and we need strong justice — much quicker and much stronger than we have right now,” Trump said. “Because what we have right now is a joke and it’s a laughingstock. And no wonder so much of this stuff takes place.”