Soldier says he’s being tried twice
A Ft. Lewis soldier charged with refusing to deploy to Iraq asked a federal court to bar his upcoming court-martial, saying the Army is violating his constitutional rights by trying him twice for the same crime.
First Lt. Ehren Watada is accused of missing his unit’s deployment in June 2006 and of conduct unbecoming an officer for making public comments denouncing President Bush and the Iraq war. His first court-martial was declared a mistrial.
If convicted, he could be sentenced to six years in prison and be dishonorably discharged.
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