http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/12/14/charges-against-bergdahl-referred-to-trial-by-court-martial.html?intcmp=hpbt1Charges against Bergdahl referred to trial by court-martial
Published December 14, 2015 FoxNews.com
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Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's high-profile desertion case was referred for trial by court-martial on Monday, in a blow to his defense team which had urged a lower-level referral.
Bergdahl was released from captivity last year in exchange for five Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay. He was later charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, accused of abandoning his post before he was captured.
U.S. Army Forces Command announced Monday that both charges are being referring to a general court-martial.
An arraignment hearing date at Fort Bragg, N.C., has not yet been set.
Eugene Fidell, Bergdahl's attorney, said the convening authority did not follow the advice of the preliminary hearing officer who had recommended Bergdahl's case be moved only to a special misdemeanor-level military court.
Fidell said in a statement Monday that he had hoped the case would not go in this direction.
Bergdahl, of Hailey, Idaho, was held by the Taliban for nearly five years after he walked off his post in Afghanistan on June 30, 2009.