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Army General Testifies No One Swayed Him in Bergdahl Case
Source: Associated Press
Army General Testifies No One Swayed Him in Bergdahl Case
By JONATHAN DREW, ASSOCIATED PRESS FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Aug 24, 2016, 1:47 PM ET
The Army general who ordered Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's court martial testified Wednesday that he wasn't swayed by negative comments from a powerful U.S. senator, saying that he takes his duty "very, very seriously."
Gen. Robert B. Abrams, the four-star head of U.S. Army Forces Command, found himself in the unusual position of defending his objectivity against a defense effort to remove him from the case. Abrams referred the case to a general court-martial rather than a lower-level tribunal in December, weeks after U.S. Sen. John McCain indicated there would be repercussions if Bergdahl weren't punished.
Wearing a short-sleeved white dress shirt and blue pants, Abrams asked a prosecutor curtly "Where do you want me?" as he strode toward the witness stand.
He grew testy when a defense attorney asked him to explain why he wasn't afraid of McCain, who leads a Senate committee with the power to approve or scuttle assignments for top military commanders.
"I have served my country for 34 years. I am at the highest rank I am ever going to attain," he replied, adding that he has a mandate to ensure a fair trial for Bergdahl. "I take that duty and responsibility very, very seriously."
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By JONATHAN DREW, ASSOCIATED PRESS FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Aug 24, 2016, 1:47 PM ET
The Army general who ordered Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's court martial testified Wednesday that he wasn't swayed by negative comments from a powerful U.S. senator, saying that he takes his duty "very, very seriously."
Gen. Robert B. Abrams, the four-star head of U.S. Army Forces Command, found himself in the unusual position of defending his objectivity against a defense effort to remove him from the case. Abrams referred the case to a general court-martial rather than a lower-level tribunal in December, weeks after U.S. Sen. John McCain indicated there would be repercussions if Bergdahl weren't punished.
Wearing a short-sleeved white dress shirt and blue pants, Abrams asked a prosecutor curtly "Where do you want me?" as he strode toward the witness stand.
He grew testy when a defense attorney asked him to explain why he wasn't afraid of McCain, who leads a Senate committee with the power to approve or scuttle assignments for top military commanders.
"I have served my country for 34 years. I am at the highest rank I am ever going to attain," he replied, adding that he has a mandate to ensure a fair trial for Bergdahl. "I take that duty and responsibility very, very seriously."
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/top-general-scheduled-testify-bergdahl-hearing-41608684
