WikiLeaks: Bradley Manning faces 22 new charges

Updated at 6:39 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON - The Army said Wednesday it has filed 22 additional charges against Pfc. Bradley E. Manning, the soldier suspected of providing classified government documents published by the WikiLeaks anti-secrecy group.

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CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that the new charges for the first time formally accuse Manning of aiding the enemy.

Army officials said the charges accuse Manning of using unauthorized software on government computers to extract classified information, illegally download it and transmit the data for public release by what the Army termed "the enemy."

The charge sheets against Manning make clear that the 22 new counts against him involve the leaking of the Afghan and Iraq war logs as well as the quarter million State Department cables disseminated last year, Martin reports.

The charge sheets do not make any mention of either WikiLeaks or its founder, Julian Assange, Martin reports. All told, the charges accuse Manning of leaking more than half a million documents plus two videos, Martin reports.

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CBS Radio News chief legal analyst Andrew Cohen reports that military officials look like they want to throw the book at Manning, not just to punish him, but also to send a message to other service members who may be tempted to do what Manning allegedly did.

The charges follow seven months of Army investigation.

"The new charges more accurately reflect the broad scope of the crimes that Pvt. 1st Class Manning is accused of committing," said Capt. John Haberland, a legal spokesman for the Military District of Washington.

The charge of aiding the enemy under the Uniform Code of Military Justice is a capital offense, but the Army's prosecution team has notified the Manning defense team that it will not recommend the death penalty to the two-star general who is in charge of proceeding with legal action.

Cohen reports that military officials aren't giving up much when they promise not to seek the death penalty against Manning, a sentence that would have been unlikely anyway even if he is ultimately convicted. One big question now is whether Manning or the government will be open to some sort of a deal that precludes trial, Cohen reports.

In a written statement detailing the new charges, the Army said that if Manning were convicted of all charges he would face life in prison, plus reduction in rank to the lowest enlisted pay grade, a dishonorable discharge and loss of all pay and allowances.

Manning's civilian attorney, David Coombs, said any charges that Manning may face at trial will be determined by an Article 32 investigation, the military equivalent of a preliminary hearing or grand jury proceeding, possibly beginning in late May or early June.

Trial proceedings against Manning have been on hold since July, pending the results of a medical inquiry into Manning's mental capacity and responsibility.

The Army said Manning was notified in person of the additional charges on Wednesday. He is confined at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va.

[PdxLMG]

The conditions of Bradley Manning's confinement are cruel and unusual. What happened to innocent until proven guilty? Not in this case. We should all be very afraid of the way this case is being handled. If we do something the US government doesn't like, we will be next. Forget due process. Forget innocent until proven guilty. We are all at risk.

[onechimpanzee]

Dyncorp child-sex involvement in Afghanistan, as provided by WikiLeaks:
http://news.change.org/stories/wikileaks-reveals-us-tax-dollars-fund-child-sex-slavery-in-afghanistan

[longtree-2009]

the soldier committed an act of treason by releasing classified documents during a time of war. he should be shot by firing squad but that won't happen. was told that the soldier is from the sacramento, ca area but not sure if true. if you have served in the military, you know what he did was an act of treason, an act of a traitor. this soldier will have to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life, listen for footsteps. too many combat veterans, non-combat veterans, from the current wars and previous wars that do not value what this soldier did, a treasonous act. if i were in command, he would be hanged.

[gracianp]

The American people have been lied to by their treasonous government and by their treasonous media. This young man is a courageous hero who has given up his liberty and his well-being to disclose this treason to his fellow Americans. You should be ashamed of being the "good soldier" to those who have undermined the well-being of the nation.
In any case, these guards have set themselves up to be judge, jury, and executioner.
This young man is INNOCENT unless PROVEN guilty.
And as such should be treated no worse than an innocent detainee.
He should not be deprived of normal uninterrupted sleep during the night, and normal food and water and contact with other human beings.
I thought we were better than that.

[fed-up-american]

whats wrong with you IDIOTS... calling this man a traitor!! ....for what? exposing the truth of a corupt government who sent thousands to die? this man should not face anything and be givin the medal of freedom for doing what our "so called" journalist dont have the guts to do...expose coruption!! ....if this man is sentenced for anything it would be a slap in the face of our constitution!! ....where is it written that government can induse war by lies to increase their own bank accounts in our constitution? ...THIS MAN IS A HERO AND TRUE PATRIOT!!

[Mortarman429]

Why are you unAmerican?

This guy is a traitor. He broke the law and put lives at risk. And he should suffer the consequences of his actions.

[TimFargo]

The man took an oath that reads: I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

By breaking that oath he committed treason against the united states (U.S. Constitution article 3)and should have his punishment decided by congress.
Maybe you should read the Constitution before sharing your your subjective point of view.

[fed-up-american]

whats wrong with you IDIOTS... calling this man a traitor!! ....for what? exposing the truth of a corupt government who sent thousands to die? this man should not face anything and be givin the medal of freedom for doing what our "so called" journalist dont have the guts to do...expose coruption!! ....if this man is sentenced for anything it would be a slap in the face of our constitution!! ....where is it written that government can induse war by lies to increase their own bank accounts in our constitution? ...THIS MAN IS A HERO AND TRUE PATRIOT!!

[love2ridend]

99 years in solitary confinment should do it. Traitor

[Mortarman429]

Blindfold and cigarette.

[endurorob_5]

What the hell is wrong with you people. If the charges against this kid are true, and they likely are, then he btrayed his country. classified information is classified for a reason.

[Harden_Tar]

There is more to this story. This little twit had a TS clearance, which isn't unusual. I had one at 19. However, "need to know" is what really grants access to this kind of stuff. Giving access to diplomatic information to a Army private is insane. I would also like to know who did the background check on him, which would include an interview. There had to be some kind of red flag.

[MalloryDavis]

Are-we the people-the enemy? We should have known and really did know what the truth was. Why can't we know...clandestine government. This poor guy is probably being tortured beyond endurance. It's the United States government after all.

[rld1948]

Sadly again we are behind. A "intelligence" service that relies mostly on luck and news reporters. Does your "eye in the sky" gauge human feelings? It is incredible to think that the only "spys" we have are the ones we catch. A private? With access? A private with a TS? What smells here. I think his CO has a lot of explaining to do. My old field officer said "If you want denial, don't put it on paper". Manning may not be innocent but, he's not to blame.