Bergdahl walked away from his unit in Afghanistan in 2009, saying he wanted to draw attention to problems within the military. Captured soon after, he was held for five years by a group affiliated with the Taliban before he returned to the U.S. as part of a controversial prisoner swap in May 2014.
He just recently pleaded guilty to his charges and was sentenced Friday, Nov. 3, to a dishonorable discharge and a rank reduction from sergeant to private. He must also forfeit pay equal to $1,000 per month for 10 months. But, he will avoid prison time; he could have been ordered to serve up to life in prison.
The sentence triggers an automatic court appeal, and Bergdahl's attorneys plan to continue to argue that statements by President Donald Trump constitute unlawful influence on the military court.