WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning found not guilty of 'Aiding the enemy'

Former Army Intelligence analyst Bradley Manning has now been found not guilty of the most serious charge levied against him – Aiding the enemy. While the charge, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), is a capital offense, the prosecution had said that they were only looking at life imprisonment, according to the Verge.

Manning had earlier pled guilty to 10 counts through a process called “exceptions and substitutions”. Taking this into account, the government had earlier chosen to move forward with all 22 offenses, which will leave Manning facing a sentence of life imprisonment for more than 150 years.

While today’s verdict is a good move ahead for Manning, as it allows him to escape a life sentence for aiding the enemy, the former analyst must still deal charges that result in more than 130 years spent in prison. While the most serious charge has been dropped, Manning has still been found guilty for violations of the Espionage Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and military law.

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WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning found not guilty of “aiding the enemy’” (Image credit: presstv)

The serious charge of aiding the enemy was a particularly controversial one as it was based on a novel legal interpretation, according to the defense. Rationalising the claim, prosecutors argued that by giving sensitive documents to WikiLeaks, Manning “indirectly” aided the enemy. The charge was based on the fact that the sensitive information leaked could be accessed by any enemy via the Internet, which Manning must have been aware of owing to his training as an intelligence analyst. In order to prove the charge, the government called in a member of the SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden to testify about how WikiLeaks material was found during the raid.

The court-martial has now moved into the sentencing phase. Army Colonel Denise Lind, the Judge who is presiding over the case, has now ruled any discussion of motive or damage (or lack thereof) during the trial as being irrelevant. However, these questions will most likely crop up again during the sentencing. According to reports, the prosecution is now planning to call in at least 13 witnesses. The statements, which will be conducted in closed, classified sessions, will most likely testify to the effect that the WikiLeaks disclosures may have had to national security. To combat the same, the defense will most likely talk about Manning’s motives as a mitigating factor. As seen with the trial phase, the responsibility for sentencing Manning will fall solely on Judge Lind.