0bama being the CIC will pardon him.
He can only be pardoned....if he’s charged and the court finds him guilty. Having seen military justice and its speed...there’s no way a court episode will occur in 2014 unless he admits guilt and does a plea deal. So I think it’s a spring 2015 episode. This means Bergdahl remains in uniform and will be under some form of house arrest (because of his walking habits).
As for the pardon odds? It really draws negative attention to the administration and will infuriate the vet crowd (who might be equally divided as Republicans and Democrats). News media trying to turn it all into a non-event? They might try but it’s already viewed from overseas and there’s some negativity weighing heavily on this wrapping up quickly. Maybe Bergdahl signs a guilty plea to do twelve months in a prison, and the Army gives him a bad conduct discharge at the end.