Judge finds Manning's acts 'wanton and reckless'

[struggle4progress]

August 17 2013 at 01:34pm
By Tom Ramstack

... “Manning's conduct was of a heedless nature that made it actually and imminently dangerous to others. His conduct was both wanton and reckless,” Lind said in a series of written findings issued after prosecutors finished their sentencing arguments on Friday ...

Before the prosecutors rested their case Friday, they presented a written statement from Army Criminal Investigation Command Special Agent David Shaver, who said chat logs and e-mail he found on Manning's computer in Iraq indicated he was responsible for leaking the classified documents.

Manning and his attorney said they would not dispute Shaver's statement ...

http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/judge-finds-manning-s-acts-wanton-and-reckless-1.1563908

[struggle4progress]

1. Judge: Manning's actions were 'imminently dangerous'

A military judge said military leaks by U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning were heedless
1:39 a.m. EDT August 17, 2013

... Army Col. Denise Lind released her legal rationale, or "special findings," as the sentencing phase of Manning's court-martial neared its end Friday. Lawyers will make closing arguments Monday, and Lind said she would announce the sentence as soon as Tuesday ...

The rules for special findings require a written rationale only for guilty verdicts. Therefore, Lind provided no explanation for her decision to acquit Manning of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy ...

Lind drew a fine line in her legal reasoning. She said the phrase "exceeds authorized access" means Manning used the computer with authorization, and then used that access to obtain information he wasn't entitled to obtain ...

Speaking to Manning supporters after Friday's session, defense attorney David Coombs acknowledged that Wednesday had been a tough day for Manning because it was "family day." There was testimony that day from Manning's older sister and an aunt, who both spoke of his difficult childhood with an alcoholic mother and the eventual split of the family after his parents divorced. Then the soldier got to spend about an hour and a half with family after Wednesday's session, Coombs said.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/17/manning-espionage-judge/2666747/