AP Explains: Bergdahl judge weighed complex leniency factors

Las Vegas Sun ^ | 11/4/17 | The Associated Press

[Godebert]

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's brutal five years of captivity by Taliban allies carried significant weight in an Army judge's decision to spare him prison time for leaving his post in Afghanistan in 2009, legal experts said. Criticism of Bergdahl by President Donald Trump also appeared to push the judge toward leniency.

Army Col. Jeffery Nance didn't explain how he formulated the sentence that also included a dishonorable discharge, reduction in rank and a fine. But the judge had to consider a complex array of arguments for and against leniency.

Prosecutors asked for a 14-year prison sentence, citing several service members' serious wounds while searching for Bergdahl. The defense sought to mitigate the punishment with evidence of Bergdahl's captivity, mental illnesses, contrition and Trump's harsh criticism.

[Godebert]

The treasonous AP is already trying to rehabilitate the treasonous Army judge who let Bergdahl walk. The article references some Former Air Force lawyer named Rachel VanLandingham who noted that Bergdahl's captivity was twice cited by officers in early investigations as a reason not to send him to prison.

This Air Force "lawyer" goes on to state that Bergdahl served "honorably": "You have a mentally ill individual who served five years honorably in captivity. He genuinely showed remorse. And I think those things came across loud and clear," VanLandingham said.

[Godebert]

The communist Bergdahl apologist, Rachel VanLandingham:

[867V309]

Nothing more entertaining than sophomoric obfuscation from asspress.

[Cowboy Bob]

Any background on the judge?

[FES0844]

That judge is a disgrace. Too bad our military can’t take a knee. Deplorable.

[maggief]

http://www.jrcls.org/annual_conf/2014_conf.pdf

Colonel Jeffrey R. Nance:

Circuit Judge, Third Judicial Circuit, U.S. Army Trial Judiciary, with duty at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 2011–present. BA, Brigham Young University, 1985; JD, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University,
1988; LLM, the Judge Advocate General’s School, 1997. Claims Attorney/Trial Defense Attorney, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky, 1988–1991; Chief, Military Justice/ Chief, Administrative Law/Chief Operational Law, 10th Area Support Group and U.S. Army, Okinawa, Japan, 1991–1994; Litigation Attorney, Civilian Personnel Branch, U.S. Army Litigation Division, Arlington, Virginia, 1994–1996; Judge Advocate Graduate Course, 1996–1997; Chief, Military Justice, First Armored Division, Bad Kreuznach, Germany, 1997–1999; Deputy Sta Judge Advocate,
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (Airborne); Vicenza, Italy, 1999–2001; Chief, Military Justice, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany, 2001–2002; Chief, International and Operational Law, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany, and Baghdad, Iraq, 2002–2003; Regional Defense Counsel, Southeastern Region, U.S. Army Trial Defense Service, 2003–2005; Circuit Judge, Third Judicial Circuit, U.S. Army Trial Judiciary, with duty at Fort Bliss, Texas, 2005–2008; Chief Circuit Judge, Fifth Judicial Circuit, U.S. Army Trial Judiciary, with duty at Vilseck, Germany, and Iraq and Afghanistan, 2008–2011. Member of the District of Columbia Bar and Utah State Bar.

[Godebert]

Another Bergdahl apologist referenced in the article, Florida International University professor Eric R. Carpenter :

It's clear how the AP operates. They just call their leftist law buddies to get a quote supporting their narrative.

[mad_as_he$$]

So good chance he is Mormon. Interesting.

[Nifster]

What crap

All I can figure is this yob has never seen combat

[Paladin2]

FU to America, because Trump? Brilliant legal reasoning.

This Nancy Boy lieyer needs to have his law degree revoked.

We’ll see who hires him when he gets out.

[TADSLOS]

IOW, he’s a lawyer who’s worn the Army uniform for 29 years, but has never been a soldier.

[Godebert]

The weasel Army judge, Col Jeffery Nance:

[Nifster]

As I thought. He has never seen combat. A paper pushing legal puke

[a little elbow grease]

This guy looks like a perv........

[Chgogal]

Your suggestion of assigning this Obama despicable to an FOB in Afghanistan sounds like a good idea.

[knarf]

Where is the evidence for this puke's horrible capture / imprisonment ?

Show me the scars from whippings and tortures, the scalding water / oil burns, his dick cut off, whatever.

The guy looks healthy as a horse and (I know, he's been stateside for a while) shows no limp or anything.

Even John McCain has poorly set broken arms.

I don't believe the scum was really in captivity but probably phuquin' a raghead beotch in exchange for any intel he gave .... until there was nothing left of value .... so they swung a deal with the RIC.

[Prolixus]

Brigham Young implies Mormon anti-Trumpism was the rationale for the punted sentence.

[leapfrog0202]

We also only have Bergdahl to tell us about his captivity and whether he was tortured and honorably served. Of course he’d have no reason to lie. /s

[Jim Noble]

When he told his story, the judge could have said, “Yes, it’s very pretty. I heard a story once - as a matter of fact, I’ve heard a lot of stories in my time. They went along with the sound of a tinny piano playing in the parlor downstairs. “Mister, I met a man once when I was a kid,” it always began.”

[Recompennation]

Colonel Jeff. . .
Another damn kernel how’s that promotion coming along.