The Army announced Monday that it will forward the case of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl to a commander with the authority to convene a court-martial.
The Army did not reveal the results of an investigation into Bergdahl’s disappearance from his post in Afghanistan in 2009, which led to his capture by the Taliban, although that investigation has been completed.
{mosads}Bergdahl was released by the Taliban in May after the White House agreed to exchange him for five senior Taliban commanders held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
The commander who will decide Bergdahl’s fate is Gen. Mark Milley, commander of Army Forces Command, the service said in a statement Monday.
“Gen. Milley will determine appropriate action — which ranges from no further action to convening a court martial,” the statement said.
“The Army cannot discuss or disclose the findings of the investigation while disciplinary decisions are pending before commanders,” it said.
The Army said it made the decision after a thorough investigation and comprehensive legal review of Bergdahl’s disappearance.
Troops who served with Bergdahl claim he deserted his post. If that allegation were proven true, it could lead to a less-than-honorable discharge from the military and forfeiture of $300,000 in pay Bergdahl accrued while in captivity.