Court martial

In his first appearance before a military judge on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, Bergdahl did not enter a plea. "The accused wishes to defer for reflection," his lawyer said.

Bergdahl, who was held by the Taliban for five years after he left his base in Afghanistan in 2009, could be sentenced to life in prison.

The Army sergeant, who has been charged with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy, is appearing before the military equivalent of a grand jury.

The hearing that will decide whether the U.S. Army sergeant accused of desertion will face a court martial has been pushed back from July to September.