US army whistleblower Bradley Manning was found not guilty of aiding the enemy, but found guilty on 20 other counts on Tuesday, meaning he could still face up to 136 years in prison. Sentencing proceedings began on Wednesday and may last up to a month.
READ full story on Manning verdict
Friday, August 16
10:19 GMT: Judge Colonel Denise Lind, the military judge who will decide how much prison time Manning will serve, said Friday that his actions were “wanton and reckless.” Lind found Manning guilty last month of 20 criminal counts, including espionage and theft, and will begin deliberating his sentence on Monday. He could face up to 90 years behind bars for leaking 700,000 US diplomatic cables as well as battlefield reports and graphic helicopter footage.
“Manning’s conduct was of a heedless nature that made it actually and imminently dangerous to others,” Lind said. “His conduct was both wanton and reckless.”
Wednesday, July 31
19:00 GMT: Prosecutors have been arguing that Manning’s
classified leaks have changed the way that the US military allows
its intelligence analysts to access data. Major Ashden Fein, said
on Wednesday that Manning's leaks “have impacted the entire
system.”
The first witness, Carr, claimed that allowing its young analysts
to have access to classified information was “hugely
important” to the US military.
16:20 GMT: Former United States Assistant Secretary of State
for Public Affairs, Philip J. Crowley, has spoken out over
Manning's impending sentence.
PJ Crowley just told MSNBC they “never should have charged Bradley Manning with aiding the enemy” and said a 20 yr sentence is long enough.
— Andrew Blake (@apblake) July 31, 2013
15:00 GMT: Brigadier General Robert Carr has been taking
stand, establishing qualification as an expert.
14:10 GMT: Manning is now being referred to as "the
defendant" rather than "the accused" by the judge.
14:00 GMT: It has been established that Manning will get
1,274 days off his final sentence for pre-trial
confinement. This includes 1,162 days of pre-trial
detention and 112 days sentencing credit for unlawful pretrial
punishment after being forced to suffer treatment in
Quantico deemed "cruel and inhuman" by a UN torture chief.
13:00 GMT: The Bradley Manning Support Network's Nathan
Fuller has published a screenshot of the Government witness list
for the pre-sentencing phase. Many names are censored, suggesting
they are witnesses who haven't yet testified. those marked with a
star are classified.
Military always redacts witnesses who haven't testified yet. Those who have are unredacted. #Manning -- pic.twitter.com/xhPVA936BO
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) July 31, 2013
12:00 GMT: Journalists are arriving at Fort Meade for the
sentencing phase of the trial.
11:15 GMT: Expressions of support for Manning continued well
into last night.
"What would you do?" #Manning illuminates building in NW DC. pic.twitter.com/aJSAutcZow
— Andrew Blake (@apblake) July 31, 2013
10:45 GMT: The Russian Foreign Ministry’s Commissioner for
Human Rights, Democracy and Supremacy of Law Konstantin Dolgov
has condemned the the US for “applying double standards”
regarding Manning.
Dolgov pointed out that Washington incessantly blasts Russia over
human rights, but when the interests of US authorities are
affected, they “act toughly, resolutely, often without paying
attention to the observance of human rights,”
He expressed hope that the US would observe human rights
standards in the Manning case, as well as in other cases.
05:25 GMT: General Counsel at the National Whistleblowing
Center David Colapinto believes that Manning’s verdict will make
it more difficult for whistleblowers to reveal information to the
public, especially with government agencies on the lookout for
leakers. “There has been a chilling effect in the US on
whistleblowers as a result of the government’s overreaction to
this case,” Colapinto told RT.
05:20 GMT: Harsh treatment of Manning does not necessarily mean that other whistleblowers will be afraid to come forward, argued WikiLeaks spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson.
“We have seen that despite the way that Bradley Manning was treated, being tortured in prison, in isolation, in solitary confinement for almost a year – it hasn’t stopped whistleblowers. There are still brave people out there, who act on their conscience and with public interest in mind and have blown the whistle. That’s not going to stop,” Hrafnsson told RT.
05:15 GMT: Political analyst Mark Mason argues that Bradley Manning’s conviction makes it likely that the US will prosecute WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. “This is really all about the attack on journalism, WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, he is the one they want to catch,” Mason told RT.
04:00 GMT: A crowd of around 100 people assembled to take
part in a rally at Dupont Circle, which then marched on the White
House. Life-size puppet versions of both Manning himself and the
Statue of Liberty were visible.
"In this day and age, in our society, telling the truth is
illegal, and the actual war crimes that Bradley exposed
apparently are not, and I just think that's reprehensible,"
Barry Knight, a protester, told Washington-based radio station
WTOP.
#freebrad at the White House pic.twitter.com/Uy7lUBHqqm
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) July 31, 2013
00:27 GMT: American Civil Liberties Union has
issued a statement expressing its relief that Manning was
acquitted of aiding the enemy, adding that the government was
seemingly “seeking to intimidate” the future
whistleblowers with that charge.
“The ACLU has long held the view that leaks to the press in
the public interest should not be prosecuted under the Espionage
Act," said Ben Wizner, director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy
and Technology Project. "Since he already pleaded guilty to
charges of leaking information – which carry significant
punishment – it seems clear that the government was seeking to
intimidate anyone who might consider revealing valuable
information in the future.”
Tuesday, July 30
20:40 GMT: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange issued a statement in response to today’s verdict. Assange believes that Manning’s conviction on 19 counts “for supplying the press with information,” and five counts on espionage, represent judicial overreach.
“This is
the first ever espionage conviction against a whistleblower. It
is a dangerous precedent and an example of national security
extremism. It is a short sighted judgment that can not be
tolerated and must be reversed. It can never be that conveying
true information to the public is
’espionage’."
"The only ’victim’ was the US
government’s wounded pride, but the abuse of this fine young man
was never the way to restore it," adds Assange.
In his statement Assange points to what he believes are
improprieties during the court martial, including the judge
allowing government prosecutors to “substantially alter the
charges after both the defense and the prosecution had rested
their cases,” which has caused wide consternation among Manning’s
supporters.
Assange also calls out president Obama’s 2008 campaign platform,
which included praise for whistleblowers and justification for
their protection, as outlined in a website called Change.gov
which the Sunlight foundation this week discovered has recently
been removed from the web.
19:50 GMT: Reporters Without Borders has said that the verdict "threatens the
future of investigative journalism." Glenn Greenwald, the
journalist responsible for publishing former NSA contractor
Edward Snowden's leaks, has urged journalists to sit up and take
notice of the ruling's implications.
What's weird about lack of Manning media coverage isn't just that it's newsworthy but prosecution theories affect all journalists & sources
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) July 30, 2013
19:35 GMT: The full verdict has been published online by the Press Freedom Foundation.
19:20 GMT: The Bradley Manning support Network's Nathan
Fuller believes the employment of the outdated Espionage Act
against Manning is ridiculous.
Sorry, but 'aiding the enemy' acquittal is red herring for dangers to Manning personally and America generally. Espionage Act is outrageous.
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) July 30, 2013
The Center for Constitutional Rights voiced frustration at the act as well, releasing a statement labeling it “a discredited relic of the WWI era, created as a tool to suppress political dissent and antiwar activism."
18:40 GMT: Kristinn Hrafnsson, WikiLeaks spokesman, told RT that he was "pleased" that the "ludicrous" charge of aiding the enemy was thrown out (it "would’ve meant, basically, that proper journalism was treason" he claimed) but had harsh words for the presiding judge, Denise Lind.
"When you think about how this trial has been carried out by
Judge Lind, one isn’t filled with any optimism. Last week, the
judge allowed the prosecution to change some of the charges on
the last day of the trial. The trial has been partly closed off
to journalists. Journalists have been intimidated."
18:32 GMT: Independent journalist Xeni Jardin reports that military spokespeople say that Manning would be likely to serve his term at Fort Leavenworth, a low-level Army correctional facility in Kansas. Manning is so far credited with serving 112 days of his term.
18:25 GMT: Hacking collective Anonymous have responded with a typically strident statement.
Guilty on 19/21 charges,aiding the enemy charge dropped,facing 136 years in prison. For what? Telling the world the truth? #ThankYouBradley
— Anonymous (@AnonyOps) July 30, 2013
18:10 GMT: Manning's family has issued a statement.
"While we are obviously disappointed in today’s verdicts, we
are happy that Judge Lind agreed with us that Brad never intended
to help America’s enemies in any way. Brad loves his country and
was proud to wear its uniform."
18:05 GMT:"This is a historic verdict," Elizabeth Goitein, a security specialist at New York University's Brennan Center for Justice, told Reuters.
"Manning is one of very few people ever charged under the
Espionage Act prosecutions for leaks to the media ... Despite the
lack of any evidence that he intended any harm to the United
States, Manning faces decades in prison. That's a very scary
precedent,"
17:55 GMT: Here is a breakdown of the charges Manning was found guilty
of. Other than aiding the enemy, Manning was cleared of espionage
in connection with the video of the Garani Air Strike - in which
scored of Afghan civilians died. While the video appears to have
been in Manning's possession, it has never been made public.
17:45 GMT: Human rights advocacy group Amnesty
International has sharply criticized the verdict. While it
welcomed the lack of a conviction for aiding the enemy, it said
the charge was an "overreach" by prosecutors in the first
place. It has condemned the lesser indictments.
“The government’s priorities are upside down. The US
government has refused to investigate credible allegations of
torture and other crimes under international law despite
overwhelming evidence," said a statement on Amnesty's
website.
“Yet they decided to prosecute Manning who it seems was trying
to do the right thing – reveal credible evidence of unlawful
behaviour by the government. You investigate and prosecute those
who destroy the credibility of the government by engaging in acts
such as torture which are prohibited under the US Constitution
and in international law.”
17:39 GMT: Wikileaks and Bradley Manning Support
Network have expressed a mixed reaction to the sentencing, and
show every intent of continuing the legal battle through appeals.
"Won the battle, not the war" - Live from Ft Meade -- now it's time to chop down the sentences #freebrad#Manning
— Pfc. Bradley Manning (@SaveBradley) July 30, 2013
Bradley Manning's convictions today include 5 courts of espionage. A very serious new precedent for supplying information the press.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) July 30, 2013
17:35 GMT: Manning's sentencing hearing will begin at 9.30
am Eastern Time (1.30 pm GMT) tomorrow.
17:26 GMT: Wikileaks has already calculated the possible term Manning could be forced to serve on those charges for which he was found guilty.
RT @carwinb: Manning faces 136 year MAX punishment on the crimes he was found GUILTY-- sentencing begins tomorrow.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) July 30, 2013
17:08 GMT: Manning found NOT GUILTY of aiding the enemy, but guilty on 20
other counts including five counts of theft and "wantonly
cause to be published on the internet intelligence belonging to
the US government."
While avoiding the most serious charge, which carries a penalty
of life imprisonment without parole, he could still face a
maximum of more than 100 years in jail, having been found guilty
of the majority of the 22 criminal counts.
He was found not guilty of violating the espionage act
for the collateral murder video.
DETAILS: #Manning convicted on 5 espionage counts http://t.co/pVZM7l1wX2
— RT America (@RT_America) July 30, 2013
16:56 GMT: Court assembles to hear verdict.
16:50 GMT: One courtroom reporter asked, "is there a
reason we don’t have Internet 20mins before trial?" The army
responded: "That’s a good question, guess were gonna have to
find out."
Army says press in the media center are only allowed to Internet during recess. No bathroom breaks either. #Manning
— Andrew Blake (@apblake) July 30, 2013
16:45 GMT:
If #Manning is found not guilty of Aiding the Enemy and guilty of everything else, he faces 154 years in jail.
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) July 30, 2013
16:40 GMT: Internet is fairly volatile, as predicted.
#Manning verdict announcement to begin in 20 minutes. Limited Internet at Ft. Meade, but we will bring you updates asap.
— RT America (@RT_America) July 30, 2013
16:30 GMT: It is now only half an hour until the Manning
verdict is read out.
16:15 GMT: The press has been instructed not to leave the
courtroom while court is in session. The prosecuting
attorney's office has said that the judge is tired of press
"shenanigans."
15:50 GMT: RT's courtroom correspondent Andrew Blake has
finally entered the media center at Fort Meade after having his
belongings searched by armed military police. He foresees that
"internet could be terrible." As was the case with
earlier court proceedings, reporters won't be allowed to update
the public live from the courtroom.
Media: #Manning reporters aren't allowed to use phones in the media center, will have to rush out after verdict. Best to send email.
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) July 30, 2013
15:40 GMT: Alongside the courtroom protesters, people are
paying tributes to Manning on Twitter under the hashtag
#ThankYouBradley, airing their gratitude for what the world has
become more aware of because of the information he passed on.
#ThankYouBradley for revealing to the world that the U.S. military tied children and old women up to be murdered. http://t.co/o1hVQZx8SR
— Team Snowden (@MindDetonat0r) July 30, 2013
15:20 GMT: The media line is beginning to shift as people
head towards the courthouse. There is a sense of unease among
some of the protesters.
"They are nervous that something might happen." Journalist at #Manning trial says not to be surprised if people are detained after trial.
— Andrew Blake (@apblake) July 30, 2013
15:10 GMT:"He's just a dumb kid who got himself into a
situation where he felt he was saving the world," Joseph
Wippl, a professor of international relations at Boston
University and a former CIA officer told Reuters. "I think he
should be convicted and they should be easy on him. They need to
do more on limiting access to classified information."
Director of the Center of Investigative Journalism, Gavin
Macfadyen, told RT that Manning's motivation seemed to be "a
genuine dislike of what he has been asked to do or what the army
was doing in Iraq. He thought that the crimes committed by the
army should be made public...he broke the law in getting most
documents and sending them out to WikiLeaks. The justice of what
he did is another matter."
#ThankYouBradley for revealing that the US spied on the Secretary General of UN in order to protect their war in Iraq http://t.co/k1DIaC305B
— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallSt) July 30, 2013
In regards to the impact of Manning's revelations, Macfadyen said
that he had hopes that they had made a long term impact. "I
think one of the effects is the hope that we always hope we will
make a difference," he said.
14:15 GMT: Around 40 protesters are present at Fort Meade.
The activists are chanting "Free Bradley Manning" and
"Three Years is Enough."
"Free Brad Now!" Manning supporters line up outside Ft. Meade to support WikiLeaker on morning of verdict. pic.twitter.com/isa1t0aNIE
— RT America (@RT_America) July 30, 2013
More supporters of Pfc Manning at a morning vigil outside Ft Meade before the verdict is read pic.twitter.com/eYDty9dOWw
— RT America (@RT_America) July 30, 2013
14:05 GMT: RT's correspondent Andrew Blake describes the
media parking lot at the courtroom as "already packed,"
despite check-in not beginning for another hour.
14:00 GMT: Bradley Manning has arrived at Fort Meade ahead
of today's verdict.
13:25 GMT: A crowd has already started to gather outside
Fort Meade to hold a rally support of Manning.
Small group of Bradley Manning supporters gathered at Ft. Meade entrance. Should be many supporters here for verdict
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) July 30, 2013
13:00 GMT: In a twist of irony, a US senator is lobbying for
today to be declared 'National Whistleblower Day' in honor of the
revolutionary-era Continentall Congress' very first whistleblower
protection law on July 30, 1778.
"Anything we can do to uphold whistle-blowers and their
protection is the right thing to keep government
responsible," Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley said on Monday.
"If you know laws are being violated and money's being
misspent, you have a patriotic duty to report it."
12:45 GMT:
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" ~Howard Zinn, Today is verdict of #Manning trial. pic.twitter.com/8PQmvPoL3q art via @dvanpoolen
— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallStNYC) July 30, 2013
12:30 GMT: European Parliamentarians have signed an open
letter to US President Barack Obama, calling on him to free
Bradley Manning.
"On July 2nd , Army prosecutors closed their arguments in the
case without having provided any real evidence
that Bradley Manning aided the enemy, or that he intended to do
so," says the letter.
The 17 signatories of the letter include Members of the European
Parliament from France, Sweden, Germany, Ireland and Spain.
12:15 GMT: Julian Assange's mother, Christine, has tweeted
her support for Manning.
#Assange#Manning#Snowden#Hammond#BarrettBrown#PayPal14 #TheCIAWhistleblowers etc.. crucified by corrupted power on the cross of truth
— Christine Assange (@AssangeC) July 30, 2013
11:54 GMT: As a US military judge deliberates the fate of
Bradley Manning, activists in dozens of cities took to the
streets across the world to show support for the whistleblower. Demonstrators in 40
cities took part in the Bradley Manning ‘International Day of
Action’ on Saturday.
08:10 GMT: Members of the Free Bradley Manning support group have scheduled a 90-minute vigil in front of Fort Meade’s main gate. The event is to start at 7 a.m. local time and will be followed by a procession to the courtroom.
06:35 GMT: Manning has already pled guilty to 10 of 21 charges related to giving secret documents to Wikileaks. The prosecution argues Manning acted with malicious intent and gravely harmed US national security. Denver Nicks, who has written a book about Manning, told RT that there is no evidence of that - and he believes the whistleblower doesn't deserve to spend life in prison.
06:05
GMT: RT's Gayane Chichakyan reported that the US media may
have already declared Manning guilty in the court of public
opinion before an actual verdict was reached.
06:00 GMT: Col. Denise Lind, the presiding judge in the court-martial of the United States v. Pfc Manning, said Monday morning that the long-awaited verdict will be delivered at 1 p.m. EDT from the military courthouse at Ft. Meade Army Base outside of Baltimore.