Posted on 08/21/2013 12:49:51 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
White House would consider Manning pardon request By Justin Sink - 08/21/13 03:16 PM ET
The White House said Wednesday that it would consider a clemency petition for Bradley Manning "like any other application" after the Army private was sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking a cache of documents to WikiLeaks.
"There's a process for pardon applications or clemency applications, I believe they're called," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. "And I'm not going to get ahead of that process. If there is an application that's filed by Mr. Manning or his attorneys, that application will be considered in that process like any other application."
Manning's attorney said shortly after his sentencing that he would ask the White House for a pardon. He added that even if the president did not do so, Obama should commute Manning's sentence to time already served.
"What's at stake here is how do we as a public want to be informed about what our government does," attorney David Coombs said, according to The Wrap.
Manning will be up for parole after serving a third of his sentence. With time served, he could be considered eligible in less than a decade. His conviction on five counts of espionage and five counts of theft carried a maximum sentence of 136 years in federal prison.
Before his sentencing, Manning publicly apologized for having leaked the more than 700,00 pages of classified information.
"I am sorry that my actions hurt people. I'm sorry I hurt the United States," he told the court. "I understood what I was doing was wrong, but I didn't appreciate the broader effects of my actions."
Earlier Wednesday, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) said Manning received a "light sentence" for having "put the lives of our troops and allies in danger."
"Given the vast damage he did to our national security and the need to send a strong signal to others who may be tempted to disclose classified information, this is a dangerous conclusion,” McKeon said in a statement.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
just figures
Manning, of course...
Snowden, no chance...
Pardon Manning and declare that Snowden’s a traitor? That’s weird.
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 America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi! |
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just trying to trick Snowdon out into the open where they can pick him off...
WHY WOULD they even raise such an issue before the ink is dry on the sentence?
Of course he will. Anything to destroy America and American morale.
Obummer is already sinking with his Under 30 base over the Snowden revelations. They view Manning as some sort of hero. White Hut is dangling this to try and keep those numbers from sagging any lower. (not to mention the whole “picking on the gay kid” issue)
Which shows you how dramatically the dynamics have shifted in just five years.
Nothing this regime does would surprise me anymore!
Obama will talk about it. He won’t actually DO it because Hell hath no fury like a bunch of spooks who think you just threw them under the bus.
“Manning, of course...
Snowden, no chance...”
Manning’s gay... Figure it out yet?
You haven’t seen anything yet. He’ll pardon most, if not every black person and/or liberal in federal custody or any federal charge (think Bill Ayers) =, with voting and firearm rights restored 19 JAN 2017. Mark my words.
I don't think they "raised" the issue - the statement was made in response to a question.
Yes he will.
Funny, no one I know would consider a pardon request after we try, convict, and imprison the Obamadork and Holder.
It’s not clear who raised the subject. Probably Manning’s lawyer. In any case, the White House spokesman responded stupidly, as usual.
Leftist anti-American hero. Of course he will get a pardon from barky Obama.
He is gay, though.
This could go either way (pun intended).
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