Obama Pentagon chief: I did not recommend Manning commutation

Today, President Barack Obama rightly commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, who shared classified USA government documents with online publisher WikiLeaks in 2010.

“If Pvt. Manning is discharged with a dishonorable discharge, she will lose her entitlement to (military) benefits, including gender-transition care at (military) medical treatment facilities”, Smith said.

“I feel very comfortable that justice has been served”, Obama said, adding that commuting her sentence should not be seen as leniency for those who commit similar offenses. During her time in prison, Manning has gone a hunger strike and attempted to take her own life. Lamo alerted U.S. authorities to what Manning had done.

Assange has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he has been accused of sexual assault, and the United States, where he fears possible espionage charges.

According to reports, Julian Assange has agreed to return to the USA now that President Obama has commuted the sentence of Wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning. Assange has denied the accusations and believes that Sweden would extradite him to the U.S., where he could face charges related to WikiLeaks’ publication of classified material. The transgender soldier has served seven years in an all-male military prison.

Ms Manning’s sentence was commuted by outgoing President Mr Obama in one of his final acts as US President. According to ABC News, Manning’s lawyer released a statement after the commutation announcement to say her time in prison had included “long stretches of solitary confinement – including for attempting suicide”.

The WikiLeaks founder also said a return to the United States is possible as long as the USA government ensures his are protected.

“I’ve always been willing to go to the United States, provided that my rights are respected”, he said.

Manning said in a clemency petition to Obama that she “did not intend to harm the interests of the United States or harm any service members”.

The White House has denied that Manning’s pardon was in any way meant to cause Assange to surrender himself for extradition to the United States.