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Bradley Manning guilty of espionage in Wikileaks case Bradley Manning guilty of espionage in Wikileaks case
(35 minutes later)
Bradley Manning, the US Army private who leaked thousands of classified documents, has been convicted of espionage but not of aiding the enemy.Bradley Manning, the US Army private who leaked thousands of classified documents, has been convicted of espionage but not of aiding the enemy.
Pte Manning, 25, has been found guilty of 20 charges in total, including theft and computer fraud. Pte Manning, 25, has been convicted of 20 charges in total, including theft and computer fraud.
He had admitted leaking the documents to anti-secrecy organisation Wikileaks but said he did so to spark a debate on US foreign policy.He had admitted leaking the documents to anti-secrecy organisation Wikileaks but said he did so to spark a debate on US foreign policy.
The leak is considered the largest ever of secret US government files.The leak is considered the largest ever of secret US government files.
He faces a maximum sentence of up to 136 years. His sentencing hearing is set to begin on Wednesday.He faces a maximum sentence of up to 136 years. His sentencing hearing is set to begin on Wednesday.
In addition to multiple espionage counts, he was also found guilty of five theft charges, two computer fraud charges and multiple military infractions.In addition to multiple espionage counts, he was also found guilty of five theft charges, two computer fraud charges and multiple military infractions.
Pte Manning stood and faced Judge Colonel Denise Lind as she read the decision on Tuesday. She said she would release detailed written findings at a later date.Pte Manning stood and faced Judge Colonel Denise Lind as she read the decision on Tuesday. She said she would release detailed written findings at a later date.
He appeared not to react during the verdict, but his defence lawyer, David Coombs, smiled faintly as the not guilty charge on aiding the enemy was read.He appeared not to react during the verdict, but his defence lawyer, David Coombs, smiled faintly as the not guilty charge on aiding the enemy was read.
"We won the battle, now we need to go win the war," his defence lawyer, David Coombs said of the sentencing phase. "Today is a good day, but Bradley is by no means out of the fire.""We won the battle, now we need to go win the war," his defence lawyer, David Coombs said of the sentencing phase. "Today is a good day, but Bradley is by no means out of the fire."
A guilty verdict on the aiding the enemy charge could have had serious implications for people leaking documents in the future, says the BBC's North America editor, Mark Mardell.A guilty verdict on the aiding the enemy charge could have had serious implications for people leaking documents in the future, says the BBC's North America editor, Mark Mardell.
"The government's pursuit of the 'aiding the enemy' charge was a serious overreach of the law, not least because there was no credible evidence of Manning's intent to harm the USA by releasing classified information to WikiLeaks," Amnesty International said in a statement."The government's pursuit of the 'aiding the enemy' charge was a serious overreach of the law, not least because there was no credible evidence of Manning's intent to harm the USA by releasing classified information to WikiLeaks," Amnesty International said in a statement.
But the Democratic and Republican leaders of the US House of Representatives intelligence committee said "justice has been served", in a joint statement after the ruling.But the Democratic and Republican leaders of the US House of Representatives intelligence committee said "justice has been served", in a joint statement after the ruling.
"Manning harmed our national security, violated the public's trust, and now stands convicted of multiple serious crimes," Chairman Mike Rogers, a Republican, and senior Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger, said."Manning harmed our national security, violated the public's trust, and now stands convicted of multiple serious crimes," Chairman Mike Rogers, a Republican, and senior Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger, said.
Among the items sent to Wikileaks by Pte Manning was graphic footage of an Apache helicopter attack in 2007 that killed a dozen people in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, including a Reuters photographer.Among the items sent to Wikileaks by Pte Manning was graphic footage of an Apache helicopter attack in 2007 that killed a dozen people in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, including a Reuters photographer.
The documents also included 470,000 Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield reports and 250,000 secure state department cables between Washington and embassies around the world.The documents also included 470,000 Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield reports and 250,000 secure state department cables between Washington and embassies around the world.
Pte Manning, an intelligence analyst, was arrested in Iraq in May 2010. He spent weeks in a cell at Camp Arifjan, a US Army installation in Kuwait, before being transferred to the US.Pte Manning, an intelligence analyst, was arrested in Iraq in May 2010. He spent weeks in a cell at Camp Arifjan, a US Army installation in Kuwait, before being transferred to the US.
During the court martial, prosecutors said Pte Manning systematically harvested hundreds of thousands of classified documents in order to gain notoriety.During the court martial, prosecutors said Pte Manning systematically harvested hundreds of thousands of classified documents in order to gain notoriety.
With his training as an intelligence analyst, Pte Manning should have known the leaked documents would become available to al-Qaeda operatives, they argued.With his training as an intelligence analyst, Pte Manning should have known the leaked documents would become available to al-Qaeda operatives, they argued.
The defence characterised him as a naive and young soldier who had become disillusioned during his time in Iraq.The defence characterised him as a naive and young soldier who had become disillusioned during his time in Iraq.
His actions, Mr Coombs argued, were those of a whistle-blower.His actions, Mr Coombs argued, were those of a whistle-blower.
In a lengthy statement during a pre-trial hearing in February, Pte Manning said he had leaked the files in order to spark a public debate about US foreign policy and the military.In a lengthy statement during a pre-trial hearing in February, Pte Manning said he had leaked the files in order to spark a public debate about US foreign policy and the military.
Much of the court martial was spent considering the soldier's intentions as he leaked the documents.Much of the court martial was spent considering the soldier's intentions as he leaked the documents.
His supporters rallied outside the court in Fort Meade and said they were planning to march to the White House on Tuesday evening.His supporters rallied outside the court in Fort Meade and said they were planning to march to the White House on Tuesday evening.