Obama Commutes Chelsea Manning’s Sentence for Leaking Army Documents

Obama, who he said has taken “admirable steps” to provide criminal offenders a second chance through clemency, “has the opportunity to right this wrong” by commuting Manning’s sentence to time served. “He things it should have happened sooner, during Obama’s first term as president”.

“It’s a major strategic victory to have achieved that, both for Chelsea Manning and everything that she has had to suffer over the last seven years”, he said.

Why did Obama act to help Manning, but not Edward Snowden? “It’s a law enforcement matter, so I really can’t comment on it”.

This was the longest sentence ever to be imposed on a whistleblower in United States history. When the informant can embarrass the US military – that takes the cake.

He welcomed Mr Obama’s decision to free the former soldier jailed for handing over classified documents to the anti-secrecy organisation.

As a result of Obama’s action, Manning will be released in May.

Republicans have roundly joined Trump in criticizing Obama, arguing that Manning endangered the lives of USA troops, diplomats and intelligence officers. “The notion that the average person who was thinking about disclosing vital classified information would think that it goes unpunished – I don’t think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served”.

In 2013, she was sentenced to an extraordinary, and historically disproportionate, 35 years in prison even though evidence has shown nobody was killed or seriously compromised as a result of leaks that raised serious and needed questions about some military operations. She has also been demoted and dishonourably discharged from the army. The leak included tens of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables that pulled the veil on USA policies normally drawn up in private and kept largely out of public discussion. It was aiding and abetting our nation’s enemies.

What were the consequences of this betrayal? The officials briefed reporters on a conference call on condition of anonymity.

Wikileaks went a step further.

Where are liberals on all this?

Adversely, speaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan has slammed the president for his decision.

Obama also granted a full and complete pardon to Ret. “President Obama now leaves in place a risky precedent that those who compromise our national security won’t be held accountable for their crimes”. With all due respect to Sen.

He may, however, face sealed charges with a sealed extradition request – essentially keeping the charges secret until he is arrested.