GI’s lawyers largely barred from raising at trial any harm done to US interests by WikiLeaks

[babsbunny]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/attorneys-in-military-wikileaks-case-argue-over-whether-trial-should-include-harm-discussion/2012/07/19/gJQAlwEHvW_story.html


By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, July 19, 6:02 PM

FORT MEADE, Md. — A military judge on Thursday largely barred an Army private from presenting evidence at his trial that the mountain of classified information he’s accused of leaking did little harm to U.S. national security and foreign relations.

Army Col. Denise Lind, presiding over a pretrial hearing at Fort Meade, agreed with prosecutors that the extent of any damage is irrelevant to the 22 charges against Pfc. Bradley Manning. He’s accused of aiding the enemy by sending hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables and war logs to the secret-spilling website WikiLeaks. That charge carries a possible life sentence.

[Daniellesbian]

1. Damn!

[treestar]

2. If the charge itself doesn't require the harm

Then it is not relevant. But they can use it during sentencing.

Maybe it is the intent to do harm - even if not successful.

[GarroHorus]

3. That's because the issues he wants to raise are irrelevent to the case.

Manning did what he did.

Now he will pay the price for his crimes.

Whatever price he must pay, it will be too small, IMO.