Private Travis King, a U.S. soldier who controversially defected from South to North Korea, citing alleged systemic racism within the U.S. military, is set to enter a plea deal, confessing to charges of desertion and others, his legal representative has confirmed.
As reported by The Post Millennial, the U.S. Army has leveled a total of 14 charges against King, who has since been repatriated. However, King intends to plead guilty to five of these charges, which include desertion and assault, as per a Monday report from BBC News.
King absconded from his post in July 2023, leading to his imprisonment in North Korea for several months. Initially, he was also accused of possessing child pornography. However, "he will plead not guilty to the remaining offenses, which the Army will withdraw and dismiss," stated his attorney, Franklin Rosenblatt, in a communication to the BBC.
The court hearing, where King will formally enter his plea and receive his sentence, is scheduled for September 20 at the Fort Bliss USA base in Texas. "Traviss guilty plea will be entered at a general court-martial," Rosenblatt confirmed in a statement.
The attorney further elaborated, "There, he will explain what he did, answer a military judges questions about why he is pleading guilty and be sentenced." Rosenblatt also conveyed King's gratitude towards his family and friends who refrained from prematurely judging him for his actions.
King enlisted in the army in January 2021 and faced detention for two months in South Korea on assault charges. The BBC also noted that King was charged with assault and insubordination for violating curfew and consuming alcohol, both of which are against army regulations.
King made his way into North Korea via the demilitarized zone and was subsequently returned to South Korea after Swedish negotiators brokered a deal for his release. Details regarding his treatment within the North Korean penal system remain unknown, as does the rationale behind the communist regime's decision to release him. It has been confirmed that the U.S. did not make any concessions to secure King's release.
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