WikiLeaks Gives $15k To Bradley Manning Defense

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WikiLeaks Gives $15k To Bradley Manning Defense

Posted by CmdrTaco on Thursday January 13, 2011 @04:36AM from the gonna-be-brutal dept.

wiredmikey writes "The Web site supporting Bradley Manning, the Army soldier charged with leaking a massive number of US classified information to WikiLeaks, posted an announcement on its site today, saying that WikiLeaks had transferred $15,100 to the legal trust account of Manning's attorney. WikiLeaks has been publicly soliciting donations specifically for the expenses of Manning's legal defense following his arrest in May 2010. The contribution by WikiLeaks brings the total funds raised and transferred to Bradley's civilian legal defense team, led by attorney David Coombs, to over $100,000. Supporters say that a 'vigorous defense' for Manning is estimated to cost $115,000."

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Re:I can see this as a problem... by Monkeedude1212 · 2011-01-13 04:45 · Score: 1, Insightful

Now that they are giving him money for legal defense, a good lawyer can say that it shows that they were in fact working together. IANAL btw
And an even better lawyer can say that it shows they merely stand for the same values.
Due Process by yoshi_mon · 2011-01-13 04:49 · Score: 1, Insightful

That my nation has deprived PFC Bradly Manning of due process is something I worry about greatly.
If I was on any sort of stage I would be repeating the words 'due process' every day until Manning is given his rights.

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1. Re:Due Process by joshki · 2011-01-13 04:54 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Due Process? How, pray tell, has he been deprived of due process? He's in pre-trial confinement, awaiting his GCM.
  
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2. Re:Due Process by Wyatt+Earp · 2011-01-13 05:03 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  He gave up the right to due process when he volunteered for the Army. Now he is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and trial by a military tribunal.
  Want to keep your Constitutional Rights for when you break the law? Don't volunteer for the farking Army.
3. Re:Due Process by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 05:21 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  He has his health closely monitored and is being tended to by Doctors, daily. Anti-depressants during solitary confinement seems prudent to keep him from suffering terribly, and considering the Adrian Lamo chatlogs I would say the Doctors would be negligent if they weren't medicating him.
  
  Should they put him in with the general military prison population? He's not been found guilty. I don't think exposing him to stranger-danger-bad-touch is a smart decision.
  
  He was arrested in May, charged in July. His trial is scheduled for this Spring. That sucks, but it doesn't appear to be abnormally slow considering the general speed of the US legal system. Perhaps the Military is different and you could comment on how fast his trial should be? How long is the minimum fair allotment of time for his lawyers to construct their defense?
  
  Or do you just think that he should have been immediately taken out behind a shed and shot?
4. Re:Due Process by Anonymous Coward · 2011-01-13 05:37 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  In some countries, at least, torture is not part of "due process". The US is not one of those countries.
  The kind of solitary confinement being used is torture even without the alleged sleep deprivation. This was realized by Charles Dickens; it's nothing new. So, "due process"?
Can't imagine it'll help much by Sycraft-fu · 2011-01-13 04:49 · Score: 4, Insightful

Manning is fucked no matter what basically. The UCMJ doesn't have a "Because I though it should be released," exception to the rules on classified materials. Also, as implied by the UCMJ thing, he'll be court-marshaled which means tried by a military court. Trying for nullification by a sympathetic jury is more or less impossible.
His case is pretty open and shut when you get down to it. I can't see what an expensive defense will do for him.
Re:You think they give more... by halivar · 2011-01-13 04:50 · Score: 4, Insightful

A token amount, just for appearances. The simple fact is that WikiLeaks no longer needs Pfc Manning, and the handwriting is pretty much on the wall for him, anyway. The best he can expect is a dishonorable discharge and a short stay at USDB in Leavenworth. Giving him any more would be a waste of resources they may need to defend Assange in Sweden.
Re:Where do i donate ? by halivar · 2011-01-13 05:00 · Score: 4, Insightful

For one thing, the complete lack of any mention of Area 51 or the JFK assassination shows that the US Military Industrial complex is even more secretive than we thought!</sarcasm>
Re:I can see this as a problem... by Monkeedude1212 · 2011-01-13 05:25 · Score: 3, Insightful

Obviously they didn't take the classified government information seriously if a private had access to it, and managed to steal it by pretending he was listening to Lady Gaga.
Re:I can see this as a problem... by spun · 2011-01-13 05:50 · Score: 3, Insightful

No, the best lawyer says, "Ladies and Gentlemen of the supposed jury, this is Chewbaca. Chewbacca is a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk. But Chewbacca lives on the planet Endor. Now think about it; that does not make sense!"

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Re:You think they give more... by Lumpy · 2011-01-13 05:51 · Score: 3, Insightful

They cant, he did not technically do a treasonous act. I suggest you learn military law about Treason and not listen to idiots with the last name Palin.

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Huh? by FatSean · 2011-01-13 06:16 · Score: 3, Insightful

Manning was spying on America for Americans! He felt that the citizens needed to know what was being kept secret from them. The guy was sold a bill of goods about military service, and when he was in the thick of it he realized that he and everyone else had been lied to.

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Blar.
Re:I can see this as a problem... by Mr.+Underbridge · 2011-01-13 06:18 · Score: 3, Insightful

Not at all. Whenever the ACLU or the EFF defends someone pro bono, they are not thrown into the lawsuit with the defendant. It's certainly not criminal to donate money to defend a cause you believe in and, thanks to the SCOTUS, these donations by WikiLeaks and others are actually just an expression of free speech.
And if that were the extent of their involvement with him, you'd be right. However, his relationship with Leaks goes well beyond what you describe. As a point of distinction, the ACLU and EFF generally don't publish illegally obtained materials from the people they defend.
No due process by __aailob1448 · 2011-01-13 06:37 · Score: 2, Insightful

Yes I agree. His living conditions are hellish. I hope no one here argues it doesn't amount to torture.
In fact, it is long-term torture, lasting for close to a year now.
The man has yet to be sentenced. He should not be punished, especially not by long-term torture, in the interim.
Minimum security is plenty to hold him.