‘Free Beacon’ Montage: Obama Team Defended Bergdahl Against Desertion Charges

Flashback: Obama Officials Said Bergdahl ‘Served With Distinction’ (Washington Free Beacon)

News broke last night that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the last prisoner of war from the war in Afghanistan who was freed last year in exchange for five Taliban commanders, will be charged with desertion, likely in the next week.

In June, national Security Advisor Susan Rice said Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl served the U.S. “with honor and distinction” during an interview on This Week, and other administration members also defended the soldier now being charged with leaving his post. Secretary of State John Kerry slightly hedged during a CNN interview after hearing Rice’s words, but when reporter Elise Labott said Kerry sounded like he wasn’t sure about Bergdahl serving with honor, Kerry said that wasn’t what he was saying.

Then-Press Secretary Jay Carney also defended Rice’s choice of words.