Former intelligence officer who gave USA secrets to WikiLeaks leaves prison

Chelsea Manning, who gave trove of U.S. secrets to Wikileaks, leaves prison
Whistleblower Chelsea Manning walks free today
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27 May, 2017

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Cars exit and enter US Army facility Fort Leavenworth in Leavenworth, Kansas, on May 17, 2017.

Labelled a traitor by right-wing President Donald Trump, she has gained the support of celebrities and is seen by many Americans as a courageous rights activist who was handed an unfair sentence for revealing civilian deaths caused by USA bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr Obama's decision to cut the transgender soldier's sentence angered his successor, Donald Trump, who called the former intelligence analyst an "ungrateful traitor" and said she "should never have been released from prison". And Fox News' "Fox & Friends" has demonstrated a history of misgendering Manning, according to Media Matters, calling her everything from "Bradleen" to "gender bender".

An Army spokeswoman says Manning remains subject to the military's criminal code until her discharge from the Army.

In 2013, Manning was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison for releasing classified and sensitive military documents to WikiLeaks.

"The day has finally arrived".

She defended the leaking by saying she had wanted to spark a public debate in the USA about the role of the military and United States foreign policy, but later apologised for "hurting the US", saying she had mistakenly believed she could "change the world for the better".

The decision angered national security experts who say Manning put U.S. lives at risk, but it won praise from transgender advocates who have embraced her transition to a female gender identity.

A documentary is being created about Pvt.

Though she still needs to navigate the legal process, Manning's "priority is living her life in the civilian world and taking care of her own needs".

Earlier in the day, Manning has been released after seven years in prison.

Citizenfour director Laura Poitras will serve as executive producer on XY Chelsea, which will unveil footage to perspective buyers at Cannes.

Shortly after her release, Manning posted a photo of her Converse-clad feet with the caption, "First steps of freedom!:D". President Barack Obama granted Manning clemency in his final days in office in January. Manning was convicted of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations, theft and computer fraud - and some don't appear to agree with her actions.

Chelsea Manning was convicted for a 2010 US intelligence leak that exposed information about the nation's military and diplomacy efforts. "And other people have gone to prison for a lot less than that and stayed in".


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