Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who was released by the Taliban last year in a controversial prisoner exchange, will be charged with desertion, retired Col. Tony Shaffer told Bill O’Reilly Monday.

Appearing on FOX News’ ‘The O’Reilly Factor’, Schaffer, who now works for the London Center for Policy Research, said two military sources have confirmed that Bergdahl’s lawyer has received a list of articles of the uniform military code that the Army believes have been violated.

“As a corporate entity, Shaffer told O’Reilly, “The Army has decided that they want to pursue Bergdahl.”

“The Army has come to its conclusion and Bowe Bergdahl will be charged with desertion."

Shaffer went on to suggest that the Obama administration has tried to keep the investigation of Bergdahl and the nature of the charges against him a secret. According to Shaffer, the effort to suppress this information has been spearheaded by Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes.

“Ben Rhodes has been, essentially, the liaison between the Pentagon and the White House on a number of key issues, to include a lot of the intelligence issues…regarding ISIS [and] regarding the Iraqi military.”

"This is shaping up to be a titanic struggle behind the scenes," he said. "Believe me, the Army here wants to do the right thing ... And the White House, because of the political narrative, President Obama cozying up to the parents and because he, President Obama, releasing the five Taliban ... The narrative is what the White House does not want to have come out."

Bergdahl left his unit without permission in 2009 and was captured by the Taliban. He was held captive for five years until being exchanged for five Guantanamo Bay detainees transferred to Qatar – all former senior figures in the Taliban. The prisoner exchange was criticized by many who felt that Bergdahl was a deserter and that working to get him back would only encourage terror groups to take more American hostages.

 

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