Bowe Bergdahl
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who is facing desertion charges from the U.S. Army, was in his home state of California last week on authorized leave and was at a marijuana-growing operation where a raid took place. Reuters

U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the American POW freed in a prisoner swap with the Taliban, is being charged with desertion amid allegations that he was captured because he left his post in Afghanistan, the Daily Beast reported Wednesday. The Army is expected to announce the charges at 3:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday, according to the online publication.

Bergdahl’s rescue drew controversy after a soldier who served with him in Afghanistan said he deserted his post and that some of his comrades died looking for him. Bergdahl was a Taliban prisoner for five years before President Barack Obama negotiated his release in May in exchange for five Taliban members held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Aside from the desertion allegations, the swap also received criticism in the U.S. from those who said the deal amounted to a negotiation with terrorists, which goes against stated government policy.

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