Bowe Bergdahl arrives for a pre-trial hearing at Fort Bragg. Ted Richardson
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Bergdahl seeks Obama pardon
FORMER Taliban prisoner Bowe Bergdahl, who is facing a US court martial on charges including desertion, has asked outgoing President Barack Obama to pardon him.
The American soldier, who was held captive for five years, is due to face trial in April, accused of leaving his unit in Afghanistan without authorisation in 2009.
If clemency is granted Sgt Bergdahl will avoid a court martial under the administration of president-elect Donald Trump, who has described him as "a no-good traitor who should have been executed”.
If convicted in April, Sgt Bergdahl could face life in prison.
