Army Sergeant Bergdahl expected to plead guilty to desertion

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who abandoned his post in Afghanistan before being held captive by the Taliban for five years, is expected to plead guilty to desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, the Associated Press reported on Friday, citing two people with knowledge of the case.

“We have no comment on that report,” said Eugene Fidell, one of Bergdahl’s lawyers, when reached by phone on Friday.

In 2014, Bergdahl was released in a prisoner swap with five Taliban detainees held by the United States in a decision that was criticized by many Republican leaders. President Donald Trump has called Bergdahl a "dirty, rotten traitor."

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Bergdahl had been charged with desertion and endangerment of U.S. troops, and would have faced a maximum of life in prison if he had been found guilty of endangerment.

A spokesman at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where Bergdahl’s trial was scheduled to begin on Oct. 23, also did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. (Reporting by Colleen Jenkins and Susan Heavey; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)