Chelsea Manning to be released early after Obama commutes prison sentence
- 7 years ago
LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS — Just days before the end of his administration, U.S. President Barack Obama surprisingly granted clemency to one of America’s most controversial whistleblowers.
The New York Times reports that in late 2009, Chelsea Manning, then known as Bradley, was deployed to Iraq by the U.S. Army. As an intelligence analyst, the Army private was allowed access to classified computer networks.
Manning copied more than 700,000 documents, videos, war logs and diplomatic cables, in one of the biggest breaches of classified material in American history.
The files were sent to WikiLeaks and made public, exposing everything from abuses of detainees to sensitive diplomatic deals and conversations. Among the items leaked was a video showing a U.S. helicopter attack on suspected insurgents in Baghdad that killed two Reuters journalists.
Manning was convicted in July 2013 of violating the Espionage Act and leaking government information. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
The 29-year-old had been struggling with gender dysphoria while in the Army. After her sentencing, she came out as transgender and changed her name to Chelsea.
She struggled with her mental health in prison and twice attempted suicide while incarcerated in Fort Leavenworth.
On Jan. 17, President Obama commuted her sentence from 35 to seven years. She will be released on May 17, 2017.
Manning’s road to freedom is in stark contrast to fellow leaker Edward Snowden, who is wanted on similar charges. Snowden also applied for a commuted sentence.
White House officials say the two cases are different because Manning acknowledging her wrongdoing and went through the military criminal justice process. Snowden, however, fled to Russia, an adversary that has most recently been implicated in efforts to tamper with the U.S. presidential election.
The New York Times reports that in late 2009, Chelsea Manning, then known as Bradley, was deployed to Iraq by the U.S. Army. As an intelligence analyst, the Army private was allowed access to classified computer networks.
Manning copied more than 700,000 documents, videos, war logs and diplomatic cables, in one of the biggest breaches of classified material in American history.
The files were sent to WikiLeaks and made public, exposing everything from abuses of detainees to sensitive diplomatic deals and conversations. Among the items leaked was a video showing a U.S. helicopter attack on suspected insurgents in Baghdad that killed two Reuters journalists.
Manning was convicted in July 2013 of violating the Espionage Act and leaking government information. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison.
The 29-year-old had been struggling with gender dysphoria while in the Army. After her sentencing, she came out as transgender and changed her name to Chelsea.
She struggled with her mental health in prison and twice attempted suicide while incarcerated in Fort Leavenworth.
On Jan. 17, President Obama commuted her sentence from 35 to seven years. She will be released on May 17, 2017.
Manning’s road to freedom is in stark contrast to fellow leaker Edward Snowden, who is wanted on similar charges. Snowden also applied for a commuted sentence.
White House officials say the two cases are different because Manning acknowledging her wrongdoing and went through the military criminal justice process. Snowden, however, fled to Russia, an adversary that has most recently been implicated in efforts to tamper with the U.S. presidential election.