Bowe Bergdahl, the soldier who triggered extensive search missions after he walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was captured by the Taliban, will serve no time in prison.

Col. Jeffery Nance, the military judge overseeing Bergdahl's court-martial at Fort Bragg, announced the soldier's sentence Friday morning.

Bergdahl stood between his lawyers, shaking, as his sentence was read in court.

Nance announced Bergdahl should receive a dishonorable discharge, be reduced in rank from E5 to E1 and forfeit pay of $1,000 a month for 10 months. He did not offer an explanation for his decision, but considered evidence from service members who were injured searching for Bergdahl, as well as the torture the soldier endured while held captive and harsh criticism of then-candidate Donald Trump.

The sentence must be approved by the convening authority, who is Gen. Robert Abrams, the commanding general of U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg. He has 120 days to review the sentence.

Abrams can not impose a harsher sentence, but he can reduce the punishment. The dishonorable discharge triggers an automatic appeal to a higher military court.

About 90 minutes after the ruling was announced, President Donald Trump — who criticized Bergdahl as he campaigned — called the ruling a "disgrace."

Bergdahl pleaded guilty Oct. 16 to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy and faced a maximum of life in prison. He has said he walked off his remote post in Afghanistan to raise concerns about problems he believed existed with his unit’s leadership. He was captured by the Taliban within hours.

His disappearance triggered extensive, hastily planned search missions, including two where service members were injured.

Before the judge entered the courtroom Friday afternoon, two of Bergdahl’s lawyers — Capt. Jennifer Norvell and Capt. Nina Banks — put their arms around his back and leaned in to talk to him. When the sentence was announced, Norvell began crying.

After the ruling was announced, they rushed Bergdahl out of the courtroom.

When Bergdahl left the courthouse about 2:20 p.m. he was not in uniform. Bergdahl, wearing khaki pants and a dark blue collared shirt, was led out of the courtroom by Norvell.

Eugene Fidell, who also represents Bergdahl, spoke to members of the media outside the courthouse immediately following the ruling. On behalf of Bergdahl, Fidell thanked the soldier's parents, former President Barack Obama and the defense team.

Prosecutors, who were seeking a dishonorable discharge and 14 years in prison, did not make a statement. They sought prison time after calling several witnesses to describe risky, dangerous missions to search for the soldier that injured several service members.

Bergdahl was released in May 2014 in exchange for prisoners being held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Obama authorized the swap without congressional approval. Obama held a news conference at the White House on May 31, 2014, with Bergdahl’s parents, announcing the soldier’s return.

Charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy were referred by Abrams for a general court-martial in December 2015. Over the next two years, preliminary motions took place on Fort Bragg.

Once Bergdahl entered guilty pleas — without a pre-trial agreement — the sentencing phase began at Fort Bragg.

Closing arguments began Thursday, and 24 hours later, the judge announced his decision.

Fidell said Bergdahl was anxious as he waited for a ruling.

He wouldn't comment specifically on the sentence, but said the defense team planned to appeal the dishonorable discharge.

Fidell called out Trump for harshly criticizing Bergdahl during his campaign.

“President Trump’s unprincipled effort to stoke a lynch-mob atmosphere while seeking our national’s highest office has cast a dark cloud over the case,” he said. “Every American should be offended by his assault on the fair administration of justice and disdain for basic constitutional rights.”

Trump took to Twitter to express his opinion on the ruling.

“The decision on Sergeant Bergdahl is a complete and total disgrace to our country and to our military,” Trump said in the tweet.

Earlier this week, Bergdahl gave unsworn testimony in which he apologized to the service members who searched for him. He said walking off the post was a “horrible mistake.”

In the military justice system, unsworn testimony can be offered only by victims or by those accused. It is not subject to cross examination.

“I’m extremely relieved my platoon mates made it back,” Bergdahl said, reading from his statement.



He added that he was thankful for the determination and sacrifice of those service members who were injured searching for him. He said he understood his apologies could never take away their pain.

He described the torture and constant beatings he endured.

Bergdahl was chained down and whipped with cables and burned with matches. He was starved and given unclean water.

After an eight-day escape in his first year of captivity, Bergdahl was placed in a cage, where he remained for four years.

Bergdahl will remain in the Army until the appeals process is complete.

He has already received a job offer from an animal sanctuary to work with feral cats. Also, an official who teaches evasion and resistance skills said he would like to work with Bergdahl to teach service members how to survive in captivity.

Staff writer Amanda Dolasinski can be reached at adolasinski@fayobserver.com or 486-3528.