Claims he intended to return to base
Bergdahl tells investigators he left his base to report on misconduct in his unit and that he had intended to come right back. His lawyer plans to argue that Bergdahl was AWOL rather than a deserter. The difference in terminology could spare Bergdahl from receiving a life sentence.
He had concerns about certain conditions in the unit and things that happened in the unit and he figured that the only way to get any attention to them would be to get that information to a general officer.