Arraignment set for Bradley Manning in Wikileaks case

Associated Press//February 9, 2012//

FORT MEADE — An Army private accused of leaking classified material to the anti-secrecy website Wikileaks will be back in a military courtroom for an arraignment later this month.

The arraignment for Pfc. Bradley Manning will be held at Fort Meade on Feb. 23.

Manning faces a general court-martial on 22 counts, including aiding the enemy, which carries a possible life sentence.

At the arraignment, Manning can request a trial by military judge or jury. The jury would include at least five officers, and Manning can ask that at least one-third of the soldiers on the panel be enlisted.

Military prosecutors say Manning gave Wikileaks a trove of sensitive battlefield reports and diplomatic cables. Defense lawyers say Manning was a troubled soldier who shouldn’t have had access to classified material.

Tags: military judge, court martial, chelsea manning, fort meade, wikileaks, sentence

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