Obama expected to defend Manning decision at news conference

[DonViejo]

Source: Associated Press


WEDNESDAY, JAN 18, 2017 11:00 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is expected to defend his decision to shorten the sentence of convicted leaker Chelsea Manning when he holds his final news conference on Wednesday, two days before his second term ends. Manning was among 273 people granted clemency Tuesday by Obama.

The former Army intelligence analyst asked Obama last November to commute her 35-year sentence for giving classified government and military documents to the WikiLeaks website. Manning, who was known as Bradley Manning at the time of her 2010 arrest, is more than six years into the sentence. She is to be released from prison in May.

Republicans blasted the decision to commute Manning’s sentence, with House Speaker Paul Ryan calling it “outrageous” and saying Obama had set a “dangerous precedent” that anyone guilty of compromising U.S. national security will no longer have to pay for their crimes.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest previewed Obama’s line of defense, saying in television interviews Wednesday morning that the amount of time Manning had served was consistent with sentences imposed on others found guilty of committing similar crimes.



Read more: http://www.salon.com/2017/01/18/obama-expected-to-defend-manning-decision-at-news-conference/

[bucolic_frolic]

1. "anyone guilty of compromising U.S. national security will no longer have to pay for their crimes"

like, um, well you know ....

[narnian60]

4. Exactly.

[msanthrope]

2. She is a traitor. But, she was given a harsh sentence, and hasn't fared well in prison.

Mercy was the right choice.

[riderinthestorm]

3. I heartily applaud Obama's decision on Manning while being curious about his rationale

Glad he'll speak on it.

[Sunlei]

5. 7 yrs with scores of days naked & in solitary is enough,even for Republicans who colluded /w Russia

If they ever happen to be convicted of their crimes someday.