Chelsea Manning ordered freed from prison

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 4:43pm

Whistleblower Chelsea Manning Ordered Immediately Released From Federal Holding

"Upon consideration of the Court's May 16, 2019, order, the motion, and the court's March 12, 2020, order discharging Grand Jury 19-3, the court finds that Ms. Manning's appearance before the grand jury is no longer needed, in light of which her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose," Judge Trenga wrote in a Thursday court order. "The court further finds that enforcement of the accrued conditional fines would not be punitive but rather necessary to the coercive purpose of the court's civil contempt order."

"According, it is hereby ordered that Chelsea Manning be, and she hereby is, immediately released from the custody of the attorney general," he wrote.

However, the judge denied Manning's request to have waived $256,000 in fines she had accrued since the previous May, which he added as an additional coercive measure to try and force her to testify.

The decision comes a day after Manning attempted to end her life while in Virginia's Alexandria Detention Center and a day before she was due to appear in court regarding a February 19 motion for her release. She has been in detention since March 2019 for her refusal to testify before a grand jury about her interactions with WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, who helped her publish a trove of stolen US government documents in 2010 revealing US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Manning, then a US Army intelligence analyst, was tried and sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for that crime, but released in 2017 when departing US President Barack Obama commuted her sentence.

Her detention has been protested by tens of thousands of activists, academics, politicians, and sympathetic persons, including the United Nations' special rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, who wrote a letter to the US government in November denouncing her treatment and calling for her release.

On Wednesday, Melzer wrote on Twitter that Manning's suicide attempt was "typical for the confusion, dehumanisation & suffering deliberately inflicted through prolonged psychological torture."

After speaking to @xychelsea's lawyers: Her state was critical but stable now.

Such acts of desperation are typical for the confusion, dehumanisation & suffering deliberately inflicted through prolonged #PsychologicalTorture (https://t.co/azqzjMO7bI).https://t.co/cwpKtYRd5n

— Nils Melzer (@NilsMelzer) March 12, 2020

This is great news.

Peace, Chelsea and may your healing begin.

Be in no doubt. The US/UK govts are trying to break Manning+Assange. They want to send a message: if you expose our crimes, we will destroy you. These prisoners are the frontline of battle to hold on to our freedom. Those who remain silent are complicit. https://t.co/t6XcI1hiIb

— Matt Kennard (@DCKennard) March 12, 2020

Tags:

Crimes against humanity War crimes

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Comments

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 5:02pm

More good news

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!

Judge Trenga has declared the grand jury ENDED & Jeremy RELEASED from his contempt!

Sadly, this doesn’t mean total freedom, but it does mean he can return to the BOP to finish serving his time, which is a step closer to freedom!

More info & statement soon. pic.twitter.com/Lp3RjbBNwY

— Jeremy Hammond Support Committee (@FreeJeremyNet) March 12, 2020

I don't know why they dissolved the grand jury. But it might be because they are sure Assange will be sent here and there is no need for it anymore. I'd love to think it was the pressure people put on the court, but...

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by wendy davis on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 5:10pm

O, be Joyful!

what wonderful news, and thank you for bringing it. when i'd read about her most recent suicide attempt, my heart went into shock.

However, the judge denied Manning's request to have waived $256,000 in fines she had accrued since the previous May, which he added as an additional coercive measure to try and force her to testify.

what a perfect prayer you've offered her:

Peace, Chelsea and may your healing begin.

it may be that i shouldn't harsh anyone's mellow with this today, and let me know if i should edit it out, snoopy, but:

Julian Assange’s mother, doctors warn he is at heightened risk due to coronavirus', Oscar Grenfell, 11 March 2020

Submitted by tle on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 3:43pm

Those fines are completely insane.

@wendy davis Which means they fit right in with grand juries and contempt of court charges. Justice my ass.

Submitted by NYCVG on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 5:15pm

Chelsea Free

wonderful news.

Now Julian, please god.

—

NYCVG

Submitted by mimi on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 5:22pm

Thank God for Chelsea. Thank you, snoopydoggie,

please always try to write out any abbreviations you may use. My dementia gets a nervous hick-up when it stumbles over abbreviations.

Try to make myself more knowledgable now ... but it's mostly just a dream I would succeed in it. Thanks again. Good Night from Germany.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 5:25pm

We should have never looked forward

Here are some of the heinous crimes Chelsea showed the world.

[video:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RvtYifpTuK0&feature=youtu.be]

The only people who were charged for crimes were those who exposed them.

Shame on you, Obama! This is your legacy.

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by Cassiodorus on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 6:03pm

Congratulations!

I hope she's not confronting the coronavirus completely alone.

—

"there's something so especially sadistic about waving the flag of a country that you're actively destroying" -- Aaron Mate

Submitted by TheOtherMaven on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 6:08pm

About fucking goddamned time!

It reeks that she's still supposed to pay the ransom money, but we'll take this a step at a time.

—

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Submitted by mimi on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 6:26pm

OMG I read over it too fast.

@TheOtherMaven
How much more cruel does it get?

Submitted by Centaurea on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 8:28pm

I think her supporters

@TheOtherMaven

will be able to help her with that. I'm willing to help.

—

"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi

"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 9:01pm

All I need is an address.

@Centaurea I fully intend to send her money.
That fine might draw interest or late penalties. I haven't read one way or another, and am not a federal law practitioner.
Steven B would know.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 9:11am

Me too.

@Centaurea

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by Centaurea on Sat, 03/14/2020 - 1:29am

See my comment below

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal

with links.

—

"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi

"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone

Submitted by Creosote. on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 9:03pm

Important to help her fund that penalty

@TheOtherMaven
which is something many would join in to do, unless it too can be declared moot.
Or, worse, unless contributors themselves would be harmed.

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 9:07pm

Hey! Big BadAss Gummint!

@Creosote. You cannot hurt me anymore than they hurt Chelsea!
Huge FU if you try to keep me from pitching in to help her!

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Creosote. on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 11:21pm

No, I'd only be hurting myself

@on the cusp
by not contributing, along with everyone here.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 9:24pm

Here is how to help Chelsea with her fine

@Creosote.

Chelsea Manning Needs Legal Funds to Resist a Grand Jury Subpoena

This looks very simple to use. Here is what the website says. It was written before today's ruling.

Chelsea Manning has been summoned to appear and give testimony before a federal grand jury. The grand jury is related to her 2010 disclosures of information about the nature of asymmetric warfare to the public. Following in the footsteps of scores of other activists, Chelsea refused to testify in front of the grand jury, and is currently incarcerated for civil contempt. She may be held until she "purges"- which she won't- or until the grand jury is released.

Chelsea risked so much for public good, and has been through a lot of hardship. Let’s show her solidarity together and let the State know their punitive harassment won’t be tolerated.

What are grand juries?

Grand juries are used to establish “probable cause” that a felony offense has been committed. Prosecutors run the proceedings behind closed doors, without a judge or defense attorney present. Basically, the whole process is rigged to favor indictment of the individual accused of a crime. They have also been used historically to oppress and frighten targeted groups, in particular, people perceived as dissidents and activists.

Why Resist a grand jury?

Due to their secretive nature and limitless subpoena power, the government has utilized grand jury processes as tools for garnering information about movements by questioning witnesses behind closed doors. Since testimony before grand juries is secret, grand juries can create fear by suggesting that some members of a political community may be secretly cooperating with the government. In this way, grand juries can seed suspicion and fear in activist communities.

What will funds go toward specifically?

We will need legal funds for Chelsea’s legal fees, and legal costs such as court transcripts and travel, and commissary.

Thank you so much for your support! #WeGotThis

Chelsea Resists

@ResistsChelsea

I don't know if she needs extra money for her lawyers or if everything goes to paying down this heinous amount of the punitive fine.

We got this. Indeed.

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 9:31pm

Thanks!

@snoopydawg n/t

#7.3

Chelsea Manning Needs Legal Funds to Resist a Grand Jury Subpoena

This looks very simple to use. Here is what the website says. It was written before today's ruling.

Chelsea Manning has been summoned to appear and give testimony before a federal grand jury. The grand jury is related to her 2010 disclosures of information about the nature of asymmetric warfare to the public. Following in the footsteps of scores of other activists, Chelsea refused to testify in front of the grand jury, and is currently incarcerated for civil contempt. She may be held until she "purges"- which she won't- or until the grand jury is released.

Chelsea risked so much for public good, and has been through a lot of hardship. Let’s show her solidarity together and let the State know their punitive harassment won’t be tolerated.

What are grand juries?

Grand juries are used to establish “probable cause” that a felony offense has been committed. Prosecutors run the proceedings behind closed doors, without a judge or defense attorney present. Basically, the whole process is rigged to favor indictment of the individual accused of a crime. They have also been used historically to oppress and frighten targeted groups, in particular, people perceived as dissidents and activists.

Why Resist a grand jury?

Due to their secretive nature and limitless subpoena power, the government has utilized grand jury processes as tools for garnering information about movements by questioning witnesses behind closed doors. Since testimony before grand juries is secret, grand juries can create fear by suggesting that some members of a political community may be secretly cooperating with the government. In this way, grand juries can seed suspicion and fear in activist communities.

What will funds go toward specifically?

We will need legal funds for Chelsea’s legal fees, and legal costs such as court transcripts and travel, and commissary.

Thank you so much for your support! #WeGotThis

Chelsea Resists

@ResistsChelsea

I don't know if she needs extra money for her lawyers or if everything goes to paying down this heinous amount of the punitive fine.

We got this. Indeed.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by Creosote. on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 12:03am

Just sent. Thank you SNDG!

@snoopydawg

#7.3

Chelsea Manning Needs Legal Funds to Resist a Grand Jury Subpoena

This looks very simple to use. Here is what the website says. It was written before today's ruling.

Chelsea Manning has been summoned to appear and give testimony before a federal grand jury. The grand jury is related to her 2010 disclosures of information about the nature of asymmetric warfare to the public. Following in the footsteps of scores of other activists, Chelsea refused to testify in front of the grand jury, and is currently incarcerated for civil contempt. She may be held until she "purges"- which she won't- or until the grand jury is released.

Chelsea risked so much for public good, and has been through a lot of hardship. Let’s show her solidarity together and let the State know their punitive harassment won’t be tolerated.

What are grand juries?

Grand juries are used to establish “probable cause” that a felony offense has been committed. Prosecutors run the proceedings behind closed doors, without a judge or defense attorney present. Basically, the whole process is rigged to favor indictment of the individual accused of a crime. They have also been used historically to oppress and frighten targeted groups, in particular, people perceived as dissidents and activists.

Why Resist a grand jury?

Due to their secretive nature and limitless subpoena power, the government has utilized grand jury processes as tools for garnering information about movements by questioning witnesses behind closed doors. Since testimony before grand juries is secret, grand juries can create fear by suggesting that some members of a political community may be secretly cooperating with the government. In this way, grand juries can seed suspicion and fear in activist communities.

What will funds go toward specifically?

We will need legal funds for Chelsea’s legal fees, and legal costs such as court transcripts and travel, and commissary.

Thank you so much for your support! #WeGotThis

Chelsea Resists

@ResistsChelsea

I don't know if she needs extra money for her lawyers or if everything goes to paying down this heinous amount of the punitive fine.

We got this. Indeed.

Submitted by Bollox Ref on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 6:17pm

Today has been pretty bleak

so some good news at least.

But what a bastard of a system that led to her desperation and desperate move.

Shocking for the 'Land of the Free'™.

—

Gëzuar!!
from a reasonably stable genius.

Submitted by The Liberal Moonbat on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 7:15pm

I like winning. Why don't we try doing that more?

—

In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

Submitted by Lookout on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 7:37pm

Hooray!

Great news! Thanks for letting us know.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by Centaurea on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 10:44pm

How to help Chelsea

Caity Johnstone just posted about Chelsea's release. It includes links where supporters can help.

https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/03/13/judge-releases-manning-after-sui...

—

"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi

"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone

Submitted by on the cusp on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 10:52pm

Thanks!

@Centaurea Tomorrow, I will send some $ to my heroine!

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by janis b on Thu, 03/12/2020 - 11:03pm

Thanks snoopy

I heard this good news on my way home this afternoon. It made me very happy for her, and happy to experience some sense of real compassion from unexpected places.

That you have to attempt suicide to earn some compassion is staggering.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 12:12am

Indeed

@janis b

That you have to attempt suicide to earn some compassion is staggering.

And absolutely disgusting isn't it that so many people are okay with what happened to not only Chelsea, but to what is happening to Julian Assange.

—

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Submitted by Alligator Ed on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 12:24am

Commuting Chelsea's sentence was the best thing Obomba did

Otherwise, the Empty suit was a elitist's dream.

Thanks to Chelsea for being so brave. Chelsea is the Tulsi Gabbard of whistleblowers--strong and principled. Cheers, Chelsea. May you live long in happier situations.