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Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence | Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence |
(35 minutes later) | |
President Barack Obama has commuted Chelsea Manning's sentence for leaking documents to Wikileaks in 2010. | President Barack Obama has commuted Chelsea Manning's sentence for leaking documents to Wikileaks in 2010. |
The 29-year-old transgender US Army private, born Bradley Manning, will be freed on 17 May instead of her scheduled 2045 release. | The 29-year-old transgender US Army private, born Bradley Manning, will be freed on 17 May instead of her scheduled 2045 release. |
She was sentenced to 35 years in 2013 for her role in leaking diplomatic cables to the anti-secrecy group. | She was sentenced to 35 years in 2013 for her role in leaking diplomatic cables to the anti-secrecy group. |
The leak was one of the largest breaches of classified material in US history. | The leak was one of the largest breaches of classified material in US history. |
The White House had suggested in recent days it was open to commuting Manning's sentence. | The White House had suggested in recent days it was open to commuting Manning's sentence. |
She twice attempted suicide last year at the male military prison where she is being held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. | She twice attempted suicide last year at the male military prison where she is being held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. |
Manning also went on a hunger strike last year, which ended after the military agreed to provide her with gender dysphoria treatment. | Manning also went on a hunger strike last year, which ended after the military agreed to provide her with gender dysphoria treatment. |
In one of his final acts as president, Mr Obama granted commutation of sentences to 209 individuals and pardons to 64 others. | In one of his final acts as president, Mr Obama granted commutation of sentences to 209 individuals and pardons to 64 others. |
Why Manning? Rajini Vaidyanathan, BBC News | |
Chelsea Manning's case divided public opinion in the US. To some she was a whistleblower who lifted the veil on US military secrets. More than 100,000 people signed a White House petition calling for her release and the campaign for her commutation was well publicised. But to others Manning was a traitor who compromised the safety of US military personnel. | |
House Speaker Paul Ryan described President Obama's commutation as treachery. When I attended Manning's sentencing in 2013, the prosecution asked for a tougher sentence than the 35 years handed down. They said they wanted to send a message to future potential leakers. | |
The White House has yet to explain why it made the decision to free Manning. It's worth noting that Mr Obama was accused of waging a war on whistleblowers for prosecuting more people under the Espionage Act than any other US president before him. | |
What has been the reaction? | |
Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, told the BBC the commutation would be a great relief to his client. | Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, told the BBC the commutation would be a great relief to his client. |
"It really is a great act of mercy by President Obama," said Mr Coombs. "For myself and Chelsea, I'm very thankful he took that option." | "It really is a great act of mercy by President Obama," said Mr Coombs. "For myself and Chelsea, I'm very thankful he took that option." |
Ciaron O'Reilly, of the Private Manning Family Fund, said Manning should never have been locked up for "exposing a war that the UN had declared illegal". | |
But Republican Senator John McCain said the president's decision was "a grave mistake that I fear will encourage further acts of espionage". | But Republican Senator John McCain said the president's decision was "a grave mistake that I fear will encourage further acts of espionage". |
And House Speaker Paul Ryan called Mr Obama's decision "just outrageous", saying the US Army private had "put American lives at risk". | |
What was in the leaked cables? | What was in the leaked cables? |
The US Army charged Manning with 22 counts relating to the unauthorised possession and distribution of more than 700,000 secret diplomatic and military documents and video. | The US Army charged Manning with 22 counts relating to the unauthorised possession and distribution of more than 700,000 secret diplomatic and military documents and video. |
Included in those files was video footage of an Apache helicopter killing 12 civilians in Baghdad in 2007. | Included in those files was video footage of an Apache helicopter killing 12 civilians in Baghdad in 2007. |
Manning also passed on sensitive messages between US diplomats, intelligence assessments of Guantanamo detainees being held without trial and military records from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. | Manning also passed on sensitive messages between US diplomats, intelligence assessments of Guantanamo detainees being held without trial and military records from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. |
The disclosures were considered an embarrassment to the US, prompting the Obama administration to crack down on government leaks. | The disclosures were considered an embarrassment to the US, prompting the Obama administration to crack down on government leaks. |
At a sentencing hearing, Manning apologised for "hurting the US" and said she had mistakenly thought she could "change the world for the better". | At a sentencing hearing, Manning apologised for "hurting the US" and said she had mistakenly thought she could "change the world for the better". |
What next for Julian Assange? | What next for Julian Assange? |
Wikileaks, the anti-secrecy organisation which published the diplomatic cables, has previously said its founder Julian Assange would agree to be extradited to the US if Mr Obama granted clemency to Manning. | Wikileaks, the anti-secrecy organisation which published the diplomatic cables, has previously said its founder Julian Assange would agree to be extradited to the US if Mr Obama granted clemency to Manning. |
The White House said the Manning commutation was not influenced in any way by Mr Assange's extradition offer. | The White House said the Manning commutation was not influenced in any way by Mr Assange's extradition offer. |
Mr Assange, who has taken refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, did not immediately comment on whether he plans to surrender. | Mr Assange, who has taken refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, did not immediately comment on whether he plans to surrender. |
But he did tweet: "Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible." | But he did tweet: "Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible." |
The US justice department has not publicly announced any indictment against Mr Assange. It is Sweden that has sought to extradite him, for an alleged sex crime. | The US justice department has not publicly announced any indictment against Mr Assange. It is Sweden that has sought to extradite him, for an alleged sex crime. |
Why no pardon for Edward Snowden? | Why no pardon for Edward Snowden? |
More than a million supporters of Edward Snowden have petitioned President Barack Obama to pardon him. | More than a million supporters of Edward Snowden have petitioned President Barack Obama to pardon him. |
But according to the White House, the National Security Agency leaker has not himself submitted the necessary documents for clemency. | But according to the White House, the National Security Agency leaker has not himself submitted the necessary documents for clemency. |
In November, Mr Obama told German newspaper Der Spiegel: "I can't pardon somebody who hasn't gone before a court and presented themselves." | In November, Mr Obama told German newspaper Der Spiegel: "I can't pardon somebody who hasn't gone before a court and presented themselves." |
The White House last week pointed out that Manning had passed through the US military justice system and acknowledged her crimes. | The White House last week pointed out that Manning had passed through the US military justice system and acknowledged her crimes. |
Mr Snowden, however, fled the US in 2013, evading charges in America which could put him in prison for up to 30 years, and obtained temporary asylum in Russia. | Mr Snowden, however, fled the US in 2013, evading charges in America which could put him in prison for up to 30 years, and obtained temporary asylum in Russia. |
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said "the disclosures by Edward Snowden were far more serious and far more dangerous". | White House spokesman Josh Earnest said "the disclosures by Edward Snowden were far more serious and far more dangerous". |
He had also "fled into the arms of an adversary and has sought refuge in a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine the confidence in our democracy", Mr Earnest added. | He had also "fled into the arms of an adversary and has sought refuge in a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine the confidence in our democracy", Mr Earnest added. |
How do pardons and commutations work? | How do pardons and commutations work? |
Mr Obama has commuted 1,385 sentences and issued 212 pardons, more than the total granted by the past 12 presidents combined. | Mr Obama has commuted 1,385 sentences and issued 212 pardons, more than the total granted by the past 12 presidents combined. |
In America, a pardon not only lifts the sentence but removes other penalties such as the bar on convicted felons sitting on federal juries, and state-level prohibitions on such things as voting or possession of firearms. | In America, a pardon not only lifts the sentence but removes other penalties such as the bar on convicted felons sitting on federal juries, and state-level prohibitions on such things as voting or possession of firearms. |
A commutation means the sentence is lifted but the civil handicaps outlined above remain. | A commutation means the sentence is lifted but the civil handicaps outlined above remain. |
Neither a pardon not a commutation is an acknowledgment of innocence. | Neither a pardon not a commutation is an acknowledgment of innocence. |