Pompeo ditches Harvard speech over Manning

WASHINGTON — CIA Director Mike Pompeo scrapped his appearance last night at Harvard University over the school’s decision to make Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of leaking classified information, a visiting fellow.

Pompeo called Manning an “American traitor.” He said he agreed with military and intelligence officials who believe Manning’s leak endangered the lives of CIA personnel.

Pompeo was due to appear at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government to discuss allegations of Russian involvement in last year’s presidential election, the North Korea standoff and other global security concerns.

Minutes after the event was to begin, Kennedy School Dean Douglas Elmendorf told the audience Pompeo would not be speaking.

Earlier yesterday, Mike Morell, former CIA deputy director and acting director, resigned his Harvard seat over the Manning invitation, saying he can’t be part of an institution that “honors a convicted felon and leaker of classified information.”

Manning was released from a military prison on May 17 after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence, which was commuted by former President Barack Obama. Obama said he felt justice had been served.

Pompeo called WikiLeaks a U.S. adversary “akin to a hostile foreign intelligence service.” He stressed that his decision had nothing to do with Manning’s transgender identity.

“It has everything to do with her identity as a traitor to the United States of America and my loyalty to the officers of the CIA,” Pompeo said. “Harvard’s actions implicitly tell its students that you too can be a fellow at Harvard and a felon under United States law.”

Harvard also has invited former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. Harvard says Manning will be among fellows who will visit the campus for a “limited” number of events meant to spark campus discussion.