FBI Investigates Threats Against Bergdahl Family

As the parents of United States Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, Jani Bergdahl (left) and Bob Bergdahl (right) look on, U.S. President Barack Obama (center) makes a statement regarding the release of their son Sgt. Bowe ... As the parents of United States Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, Jani Bergdahl (left) and Bob Bergdahl (right) look on, U.S. President Barack Obama (center) makes a statement regarding the release of their son Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl by the Taliban, Saturday May 31, 2014, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C. Credit: John Harrington / Pool via CNP Photo by: John Harrington/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Threats against the family of former Taliban prisoner Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl are being investigated by federal, state and local authorities.

William Facer, a spokesman for the FBI’s Salt Lake City division, said Saturday in a statement: “The FBI continues to monitor the situation in Hailey, Idaho. We are working jointly with our state and local partners and taking each threat seriously.”

The soldier’s parents, Bob and Jani Bergdahl, live in Hailey, Idaho.

Facer did not detail the nature of the threat.

On Wednesday, Bergdahl’s hometown abruptly canceled plans Wednesday for a welcome-home celebration, citing security concerns over the prospect of big crowds — both for and against the soldier.

The town of 8,000 has been swamped with hate mail and angry calls over Bergdahl, whose release after five years of Taliban captivity in Afghanistan has touched off a debate over whether the 28-year-old should be given a hero’s welcome or punished as a deserter.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Why does the celebration have to be “a hero’s welcome?” Why can’t his home town and friends demonstrate their relief and happiness that he’s back home–which seems to be the case. They’ve supported him all along, and unlike the RW (and some weaselly Dems), they aren’t turning tail now, because their concern was real.

  2. And I’ll bet every threat was from a Republican, the big bullies.

  3. These rightwing nutcases would threaten to kill Jesus if he returned

  4. Avatar for wwss wwss says:

    And if Obama had not gone for his return, the same people would be screaming just as loudly, with an equal amount of jumping to conclusions based on equally lacking information. It’s pretty obvious that they are nothing but ignorance, bigotry and hatred. Something has to change soon, and I hope and pray that it’s at the ballot box, but given the circus we’ve viewed this past week, I’m not extremely positive. I don’t think anything other than either full scale revolution or complete control of the entire country will satisfy their lust.

  5. I suppose there have always been people who will behave this way in our country but in the past they didn’t have as much access to information and to groups who encourage this sort of crazy hatred. The digital age has its drawbacks.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

19 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for david_e_brown Avatar for silvrfox Avatar for overreach_this Avatar for jep07 Avatar for sundancer Avatar for wwss Avatar for just2stressed Avatar for fortunatolucchesi Avatar for monpa Avatar for snarkus_aurelius Avatar for suesista Avatar for apotropoxy Avatar for waldenpond Avatar for fruittree Avatar for ezdrifter Avatar for occamsrazor2 Avatar for dbutch Avatar for horrido666

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: