Army: Bergdahl will face desertion charge at general court-martial

WASHINGTON - The Army confirms that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl will be facing charges including desertion at a general court-martial. This, even though a hearing officer recommended that the case be handled at a misdemeanor-level forum.

Bergdahl walked off his post in Afghanistan in June of 2009. He was held by the Taliban for five years, before he was freed in exchange for five detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

A date for an arraignment hearing at Fort Bragg in North Carolina will be announced later.

Meanwhile, Bergdahl's lawyer is complaining about political figures who have made derogatory statements about Bergdahl. He had previously complained about Donald Trump calling Bergdahl a traitor. And he's now calling on Trump to end what he calls a "prejudicial months-long campaign of defamation" against his client.