"Trump's Bias Voided Bergdahl's Desertion Conviction"

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton has vacated the court-martial conviction and sentence of Bowe Bergdahl, the former soldier who admitted to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. The judge ruled that the appearance of bias was created when the military judge overseeing Bergdahl's case applied for a job in the Trump administration, while assuring attorneys that he was impervious to pressure from then-President Donald Trump. The ruling gives Bergdahl a clean slate, revoking his dishonorable discharge. The judge's actions were deemed misleading, and the case highlights the importance of maintaining public confidence in the administration of justice. The next legal steps are unclear, and it remains to be seen how the Army and Justice Department will respond to the ruling.