Reactions to the Bradley Manning verdict
In the wake of Bradley Manning’s court martial verdict on July 30, many took to Twitter to express their thoughts on the matter. Manning was acquitted of aiding the enemy, but found guilty of violating the Espionage Act, stealing government property, among other charges.
The trial centered around Manning’s role in leaking military records and secrets — a story recounted in Jigsaw’s 2013 film, “We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks.” Director Alex Gibney expressed his reaction on Twitter:
Re: Bradley Manning- In military courts, a judge has tremendous discretion in sentencing. Now would be a good time for voices to be raised.
— Alex Gibney (@BaLueBolivar) July 30, 2013
Julian Assange released a statement later in the day to denounce the verdict as “dangerous.”
This is the first ever espionage conviction against a whistleblower. It is a dangerous precedent and an example of national security extremism. It is a short sighted judgment that can not be tolerated and must be reversed. It can never be that conveying true information to the public is ’espionage’.
WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, and Jen Robinson suggested the legal precedent is bad for whistleblowers:
Bradley Manning’s convictions today include 5 courts of espionage. A very serious new precedent for supplying information the press.
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) July 30, 2013
Verdict in #Manning proceedings means that whistleblowing = espionage. First ever successful espionage conviction against a whistleblower.
— Jen Robinson (@suigenerisjen) July 30, 2013
Statement by Julian Assange on Verdict in Bradley Manning Court-Martial http://t.co/0vby8C92sd
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) July 30, 2013
Morris Davis, a prosecutor in the Guantanamo Bay commissions:
Judge Lind halfway to validating mil justice w/not guilty to aiding the enemy charge. Now she needs to give #Manning a reasonable sentence. — Col. Morris Davis (@ColMorrisDavis) July 30, 2013
James Ball, a journalist who worked with WikiLeaks, and who appeared in the film:
Manning’s arrest heralded “a proxy war on watchdog journalism” http://t.co/GwcJ4B7K5x
— James Ball (@jamesrbuk) July 30, 2013
Adrian Lamo, a hacker whom Manning confessed to, and who also appeared in the film:
Adrian Lamo @6 tells @guardianus he’s pleased ‘aiding t enemy’ failed but adds #Manning was “guilty as hell” of other charges #WikiLeaks
— Ed Pilkington (@Edpilkington) July 30, 2013