Bowe Bergdahl's lawyers want to question Donald Trump for his derogatory comments on Bergdahl which they see as compromising his right to a fair trial. | Ted Richardson/AP Bergdahl's lawyers request to interview Trump

Bowe Bergdahl’s defense has requested to interview Donald Trump.

Franklin D. Rosenblatt, who is representing Bergdahl, sent a letter to the billionaire Saturday requesting to interview Trump over derogatory public comments he has made about the Army soldier, according to a document obtained by POLITICO.


“I request to interview you as soon as possible about your comments about Sergeant Bergdahl during frequent appearances in front of large audiences in advance of his court-martial," said the letter, which was obtained Saturday. "Based on your personal knowledge of matters that are relevant to Sergeant Bergdahl’s right to a fair trial this interview will help us determine whether to seek a deposition order under Rule of Court-Martial 702 or your personal appearance as a witness at an Article 39(a) session of the court-martial.”

In January, one of Bergdahl’s lawyers told CNN that Trump’s disparaging comments had “irreparably compromised” Bergdahl’s right for a fair trial.

“His pattern of doing so, with the full glare of public attention before mass audiences around the country, materially threatens SGT Bergdahl’s right to fair consideration by the convening authority as well as in a court-martial,” defense lawyer Eugene Fidell said.

Berghdal is being charged with desertion and endangering fellow soldiers in a military court. In 2009 the sergeant left his military post in Afghanistan and was held prisoner from 2009 to 2014 after being captured by Taliban-linked militants. He was returned to the U.S. through a prisoner swap in June 2014.

At his rallies, Trump has called Bergdahl "a no-good traitor, who should have been executed."

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.