[JURIST] After pleading guilty earlier this week [JURIST report] to charges of battery, dereliction of duty, and lying to Army investigators in connection with alleged alleged abuses of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, Sgt. Javal Davis Thursday asked jurors to show mercy in sentencing. Davis apologized for his actions, adding that he did not "want to see [his military career] go down the drain for some foolishness." The sentencing hearing is expected to finish today. AP has more.

In other news surrounding the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld [official profile] revealed Thursday night that he had twice offered his resignation to President Bush. In both instances, Bush refused to accept the resignation. Rumsfeld, speaking on CNN's Larry King Live, admitted feeling some measure of responsibility for the abuse, but added that "this kind of thing occurs in prisons across the country and across the world." AP has more.