'Serial' Season 2 Premiere Features Bowe Bergdahl's Desertion Story
"Serial" season 2 premiered on Thursday with the spotlight focused on U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's side of the desertion issue he is involved in.
Since Bowe Bergdahl was freed by the Taliban in May last year, this is the first time that he will get to address the public to convey his side of the desertion story. His opportunity came in the form of the podcast "Serian" season 2, according to NBC News.
Military officials said Bergdahl was rescued by a U.S. Special Operation team in Afghanistan almost five years after he "mysteriously" left his post and was captured by the Taliban. The issue drew flak from GOP lawmakers after the terror group demanded the release of five Taliban prisoners in Guantanamo Bay in exchange for Bergdahl's freedom, HNGN reports.
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In an interview with NBC, Bergdahl's legal counsel Eugene Fidell said "Serial" season 2 will shed light on the reason why the army sergeant left his post, the report relays.
"We've been anxious for the American people to know the facts and circumstances," Fidell told NBC. "The more the people know, the better."
On Thursday, Bergdahl recalled how he started to realize the gravity of what he did after he deserted his military base in June 2009. The Taliban later on captured him and he now faces court martial and a life sentence.
The alleged desertion issue, however, has been surrounded by controversy. House Republicans claimed that the Obama administration did not give them a 30-day notice regarding the release of the so-called Taliban Five. The former leaders of the terrorist group are presently in Qatar and are not allowed to leave the country or participate in militant activities, the report details.
In September, a defense department officer testified during a preliminary court martial hearing about Bergdahl's motive for leaving his post. The official said Bergdahl wanted to trigger a massive search in the hopes of getting the chance to speak to a general about what he personally perceived as problems with his unit head.
Since the requests to release Bergdahl's interviews during the investigation were not granted, Fidell hopes the "Serial" podcast will help silence critics by giving his client the chance to express his side of the story.
The popularity of "Serial" soared after it was downloaded more than 100 million times. It has received a Peabody award and became the most popular podcast in history.
