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| President Obama commutes Chelsea Manning’s prison sentence | President Obama commutes Chelsea Manning’s prison sentence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Obama has commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former army intelligence analyst who was convicted of leaking classified military documents to Wikileaks. | President Obama has commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, the former army intelligence analyst who was convicted of leaking classified military documents to Wikileaks. |
| The 29-year-old whistleblower, who was sentenced to 35-years in prison in August 2013, will now be released in four months, on 17 May of this year, instead of 2024. | |
| Since her incarceration, the former US Army soldier who was known as Bradley Manning, attempted suicide twice last year and went on a hunger strike at the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. | Since her incarceration, the former US Army soldier who was known as Bradley Manning, attempted suicide twice last year and went on a hunger strike at the US Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. |
| She continued her protest for less than a week until doctors allowed her to receive gender reassignment surgery. A military doctor has nonetheless refused to change her gender on her military records. | She continued her protest for less than a week until doctors allowed her to receive gender reassignment surgery. A military doctor has nonetheless refused to change her gender on her military records. |
| Mr Obama commuted a total of 209 sentences this week, pardoning 64 people at the same time. Over the course of his eight years in office, he has commuted the sentences of 1,385 people—the most issued by any president in US history. He’s also granted a total of 212 pardons. | |
| “While the mercy the President has shown his 1,597 clemency recipients is remarkable, we must remember that clemency is an extraordinary remedy, granted only after the President has concluded that a particular individual has demonstrated a readiness to make use of his or her second chance,” White House Counsel Neil Eggleston wrote in a statement. | “While the mercy the President has shown his 1,597 clemency recipients is remarkable, we must remember that clemency is an extraordinary remedy, granted only after the President has concluded that a particular individual has demonstrated a readiness to make use of his or her second chance,” White House Counsel Neil Eggleston wrote in a statement. |
| “Only Congress can achieve the broader reforms needed to ensure over the long run that our criminal justice system operates more fairly and effectively in the service of public safety. | “Only Congress can achieve the broader reforms needed to ensure over the long run that our criminal justice system operates more fairly and effectively in the service of public safety. |
| The American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing Manning, has pressured the current administration to commute her sentence for months. Her counsel has cited the dangers she faces as a transgender woman serving her sentence in an all-male detention center. | The American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing Manning, has pressured the current administration to commute her sentence for months. Her counsel has cited the dangers she faces as a transgender woman serving her sentence in an all-male detention center. |
| “I’m relieved and thankful that the president is doing the right thing and commuting Chelsea Manning’s sentence,” ACLU attorney Chase Strangio said in a statement. | “I’m relieved and thankful that the president is doing the right thing and commuting Chelsea Manning’s sentence,” ACLU attorney Chase Strangio said in a statement. |
| “Since she was first taken into custody, Chelsea has been subjected to long stretches of solitary confinement—including for attempting suicide—and has been denied access to medically necessary health care. This move could quite literally save Chelsea’s life, and we are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many.” | “Since she was first taken into custody, Chelsea has been subjected to long stretches of solitary confinement—including for attempting suicide—and has been denied access to medically necessary health care. This move could quite literally save Chelsea’s life, and we are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many.” |
| Following the announcement, the Obama administration defended commuting Manning’s sentence by arguing that her case is fundamentally different than Edward Snowden’s, who fled to Russia after leaking documents that revealed the National Security Agency's spying program. | Following the announcement, the Obama administration defended commuting Manning’s sentence by arguing that her case is fundamentally different than Edward Snowden’s, who fled to Russia after leaking documents that revealed the National Security Agency's spying program. |
| “Chelsea Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told The New York Times. | “Chelsea Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told The New York Times. |
| “Mr Snowden fled into the arms of an adversary, and has sought refuge in a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine confidence in our democracy.” | “Mr Snowden fled into the arms of an adversary, and has sought refuge in a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine confidence in our democracy.” |
| Just last week, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange agreed to be extradited to the United States if President Obama commuted Manning’s sentence. “If Obama grants Manning clemency Assange will agree to US extradition despite clear unconstitutionality of DoJ case,” Wikileaks said on Twitter. | |
| Now, the website addressed the statement, claiming that Assange is “confident of winning any fair trial in the states” and if Obama’s Justice Department prevents the “public interest defense” and provides a “fair jury.” | |
| In another tweet, the website thanked everyone who supported Manning: "Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency," Wikileaks wrote on Twitter. "Your courage & determination made the impossible possible." | |
| Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Ryan condemned the president's decision to commute Manning’s sentence. | Meanwhile, House Speaker Paul Ryan condemned the president's decision to commute Manning’s sentence. |
| “This is just outrageous. Chelsea Manning’s treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation’s most sensitive secrets,” he said in a statement. “President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security won’t be held accountable for their crimes.” | “This is just outrageous. Chelsea Manning’s treachery put American lives at risk and exposed some of our nation’s most sensitive secrets,” he said in a statement. “President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security won’t be held accountable for their crimes.” |