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In one of his last moves in office, President Obama has commuted the 35-year prison sentence of Chelsea Manning, the Army private who leaked a massive trove of military secrets to WikiLeaks.
The former intelligence analyst's prison sentence has been shortened to expire on May 17, 2017, according to a statement from the White House.
Her lawyers at the ACLU expressed relief after the decision, saying that Manning has already served more time behind bars than any other whistleblower in U.S. history, and under difficult conditions.
Also at the BBC and the New York Times.
Previously: Chelsea Manning Reportedly on Obama's Short List for Commutation; Assange Offers Himself in Trade
Original Submission #1 Original Submission #2 Original Submission #3
(Score: 3, Informative) by butthurt on Wednesday January 18 2017, @03:40PM
Manning believed so much in the legitimacy of her whistleblowing that she plead[ed] guilty and trusted the military justice system to treat her fairly.
Before the trial Manning admitted to 10 lesser charges that could have given him a 20-year sentence on their own. He also pleaded guilty to a minor charge relating to one diplomatic cable, and the government accepted the plea. But military prosecutors pushed ahead with trying to prove his guilt on 21 other charges, including aiding the enemy.
-- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/21/bradley-manning-sentenced_n_3787492.html [huffingtonpost.com]
Instead they fucked her with everything they possibly could, giving her the maximum penalty of 35 years.
The charges carried a maximum sentence of 90 years, and the prosecution had requested Manning serve 60.
-- ibid.