Army Lodges 22 Additional Charges against Bradley Manning

[Rheo]

National Journal:

The U.S. Army today charged Pfc. Bradley Manning with 22 additional offenses related to the release of classified documents to WikiLeaks, including "aiding the enemy," traditionally a capital offense. But in a release announcing the new charges, the Army said it would not be recommending the death penalty.

The charges, announced after what the Army said was a seven-month investigation, also included wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the Internet where it could be accessed by "the enemy," theft of public records, transmitting defense information, and fraud in connection with computers. The new counts included five violations of Army regulations as well, the Army release said. During this time Manning has been held in solitary confinement at the Marine Corps Base brig at Quantico, Va.

“The new charges more accurately reflect the broad scope of the crimes that Pvt. 1st Class Manning is accused of committing,” said Capt. John Haberland, a legal spokesperson for the Military District of Washington.

He said the new charges will not affect Manning’s right to a speedy trial or his pre-trial confinement, which his lawyers have argued include unprecedented isolation because of a suicide watch. Manning's lawyers say the suicide watch is unnecessary and amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

[Valin]

including "aiding the enemy," traditionally a capital offense. But in a release announcing the new charges, the Army said it would not be recommending the death penalty.

 

They should.