Chelsea Manning ordered released
Chelsea Manning will be released from jail after a federal judge determined her testimony against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is no longer necessary.
The grand jury investigating the anti- secrecy group is no longer active, federal Judge Anthony Trenga said.
“Ms. Manning’s appearance before the grand jury is no longer needed,” he wrote. “Her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose.”
The judge’s order came a day after Manning, a former army private, tried to commit suicide in jail.
Manning has been detained in the Alexandria Detention Center for 11 months. Her lawyers confirmed Wednesday that she tried to kill herself in jail that day; authorities said they stepped in before serious harm occurred.
Jail officials responded to an incident involving Manning at 12: 11 p. m., according to a statement released by Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne. “It was handled appropriately by our professional staff and Ms. Manning is safe,” Lawhorne’s statement said.
Manning, who leaked classified documents to Wikileaks in 2010, has been held for about a year for refusing to testify to a federal grand jury. She had also been ordered to pay a US$ 1,000 daily fine while detained.
Manning petitioned the court in February for release and in a letter to Judge Trenga called the grand jury process political and selective.
“The Attorney General was in contempt of a congressional subpoena but faced no consequences,” Manning wrote to Trenga. “The president has been instructing his associates not to comply with grand jury subpoenas and witness subpoenas for at least two years, and has even fired people for their compliance with subpoenas. It is clear that the rules are different for different people.”
In a statement following Manning’s suicide attempt, her legal team said “Ms. Manning has previously indicated that she will not betray her principles, even at risk of grave harm to herself.
“Her actions today evidence the strength of her convictions, as well as the profound harm she continues to suffer as a result of her ‘civil’ confinement.”
Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange is charged with violating the Espionage Act and is accused of helping Manning expose secret war logs and diplomatic cables. He is fighting extradition from London.
Hacker Jeremy Hammond, also being held in civil contempt for refusing to testify before the grand jury, was also ordered released Thursday. But he is still serving a 10-year prison sentence.