In a significant victory for Bradley Manning’s defense team, led by lawyer David Coombs, the trial judge has ordered the government to hand over documents related to their claims that the WikiLeaks cables did serious damage to national security. The government had initially argued that the requests were overbroad, and that the documents were “confidential.”
The defense was given a copy of the State Department’s findings, as well as a redacted version of the DIA assessment. The documents will be significant in challenging the charge of “aiding the enemy,” as officials have publicly never produced any evidence that any real damage was done by the cables becoming public, above and beyond considerable embarrassment for State Department officials.
Tomorrow’s hearing on Manning is to center on Coombs’s request for the judge to rule out several of the charges, including the constitutionality of certain laws based on an interpretation of what qualifies as “national defense” as well as the argument that Manning gained “unauthorized access” to the files, when he used his own username and password to do so.
The defense has faced an uphill battle in the case, as the prosecution has repeatedly refused to turn over documents related to the discovery process. If convicted of all charges, Manning could face life in prison
He is a hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The very fact that the prosecution refuses to turn over any documents the judge requests for his eyes only should disqualify this blatantly false prosecution. National security my a$$.
There is no harm done, this man acted knowing what is done by the US military is wrong and against all domestic and international laws, in reality he is the one that needed to be given the medal of honor for exposing the truth about the US military and how it operates. That is exactly why the prosecutor and the government are up to their teeth wanting this man to be silenced, the truth hearts, it always dose when the truth is out especially when it comes to wrong doing by the government and its militarism. Prosecuting this man is simply an act of defeat and for government wanting to show its unjust power in justice. Let Manning go, let all others go but prosecute the true war criminals as George W. Bush and others alike.
Bravo, Col. Denise Lind!! (she, who must be obeyed…)
Bradley Manning must be made into as effective a deterrent as possible to any other military member thinking of revealing American war crimes. He will never experience freedom again, and will be "suicided" if necessary.
DanD