(Newswire.net — March 14, 2020) — Federal judge orders Chelsea Manning’s release from jail after she attempts suicide, CNN reports.
Chelsea Manning is recovering from a suicide attempt, her attorneys say.
Former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning is recovering at a hospital after trying to take her own life, her legal team said.
Police have confirmed there was an “incident” involving 32-year-old Manning, at a Virginia prison where she has been staying since last May.
Manning is held in custody for refusing to testify in the investigation into WikiLeaks. She is scheduled to appear at a hearing this Friday in the city of Alexandria, Virginia.
Andy Stepanian, a spokesman for her legal team, participated in a secret grand jury process that she sees as highly susceptible to abuse.
“Her actions today evidence the strength of her convictions, as well as the profound harm she continues to suffer as a result of her ‘civil’ confinement,” Mr. Stepanian said.
“There was an incident at approximately 12:11 pm today at the Alexandria Adult Detention Center involving inmate Chelsea Manning,” Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne said in a statement. “It was handled appropriately by our professional staff and Ms. Manning is safe,” she added.
In 2013, Manning was found guilty of espionage for sending secret military documents to WikiLeaks, but her sentence for the 2010 arrest was commuted in 2017 by then US President Barack Obama.
She declined to answer further questions from investigators regarding WikiLeaks because she claims she already testified during the 2013 trial.
The US prosecutors have been investigating WikiLeaks for several years. They are currently demanding the extradition of WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange from the UK for his alleged role in releasing confidential military and diplomatic documents in 2010.
Australian-born Assange is facing charges of conspiracy to commit a cyber attack in America.