Dempsey: Army may still pursue desertion charges
By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press
Jun 3, 2014 7:16 AM CDT

BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey says the Army may still pursue an investigation that could lead to desertion charges against Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl (boh BURG'-dahl), who was freed from five years of Taliban captivity in a prisoner exchange last weekend.

Dempsey also told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday that Bergdahl's next scheduled promotion is not automatic because he is no longer missing in action.

He noted that U.S. military leaders "have been accused of looking away from misconduct" and said "it's premature" to assume they would do so in Bergdahl's case, despite his five years as a Taliban detainee.

Bergdahl was handed over to U.S. Army special forces Saturday in exchange for the release of five detainees at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention facility.