Military prosecutors seek at least 60 years for Manning
By Paul Courson
Army private Bradley Manning acted as a "determined insider" in leaking a trove of classified documents about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and should spend a minimum of 60 years in jail, a military prosecutor said at his sentencing hearing on Monday.
Capt. Joe Morrow told Col. Denise Lind, the judge overseeing the former intelligence analyst's court-martial, that such punishment for the historic and unauthorized release of hundreds of thousands of documents and other information to WikiLeaks would ensure that "we never see a number like this again."
Defense attorney David Coombs portrayed Manning as an excellent candidate for rehabilitation, and that he should not be left to "rot in jail."
Coombs did not ask for any specific sentence in the case described as the largest-ever leak of classified information in U.S. history.
Lind recessed court until Tuesday.
It is unclear when Lind will render a decision, but Manning, 25, faces up to 90 years behind bars following his conviction on 20 criminal counts in July at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Manning avoided a potential life sentence when Lind rejected charges that his actions aided the enemy.
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The people here thinking that this guy did nothing wrong is astounding. He didn't release massive evidence proving major wrong doings. The kid release as much classified data as he could get his hands on. There are people trying to say he didn't hurt anyone, but that is only true if can't think past the initial crime. Part of the data he released included the names and locations of Afghanis that helped the US. If even one murder or rape happens because of the information he leaked, then he is responsible.
Just how many rapes and murders occurred before Pfc. Bradley Manning released this massive evidence, mediafail2012? Just look at the people being butchered by those ungodly drones day after day! Why aren't the creeps who operate them being prosecuted? This only proves that we have a broken justice system in the military, but then again, I assume that you have no true sense of justice, do you?
Manning was extremely sloppy, he in effect handed the Army all the evidence it needed to convict. A stiff sentence will serve no purpose as a deterrent, all it will mean is the next person will be more careful about not getting caught.
Remember the PROSECUTORS want this, it is entirely possible that he will get much less. Of course, the defense hopes for less years. Please don't say the government is being evil or terrible or secretive or whatever.
Reblogged this on The Legal Eagle.
The government was embarrassed! What do you people expect. They can't have citizens actually knowing what they are doing. The next thing somebody will be proposing representation in government and nonsense about freedom and liberty and other such dangerous ideas. I heard there was a country called America a little over 200 years ago that tried that crap. Good thing it ended, obviously.
Well said, Inewit. We simply cannot let the people know what the right-wing thugs in Washington are up to!!!
The number of delusional people is amazing. Why don't you go occupy Wall Street? If you only had a clue, lol!!!
This is absolutely ludicrous! They'll give Pfc. Bradley Manning 60 years for doing the right thing and yet, let those filthy creeps who assault women in the military get off quite lightly, if not altogether! There is something terribly wrong here!!!
Your right it is ludicrous that he is still breathing.
Am I to take your post above as support for those creeps in the Military who abuse their female counterparts, U.S.M.C. 1371? I desperately hope not! On the other hand, I wholeheartedly do support Pfc. Bradley Manning for doing the right thing by exposing the dirty things that just go on and on and.............!!!
Like normal your comparing apples to oranges to make a point that makes no difference. I agree with him righting a wrong but the way he did it makes him a traitor. Their are way too many places he could have and should have shared that info not a website.
Ten is about right.
60 years? This guy will be out when he's in his eighties, he'll be wishing he's dead before he hits that point. This is a clear example that the federal government wants people to keep their mouth shuts even if your exposing war crimes...it's a sick world we live in.
Eh 60 years seems a bit steep, especially since they all ready ruled he did not aid the enemy. Though that is only what the prosecution is asking for, so it makes sense for them to ask for the most they can get if possible. Judge seems fair, so something between 20-30 years will probably be more appropriate.
60 years plus no movie rights or book deals.