WASHINGTON — The Army said Wednesday that it has filed 22 additional charges against Pfc. Bradley Manning, who is suspected of providing classified government documents published by the WikiLeaks anti-secrecy group.
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 charges follow seven months of Army investigation.
One 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.
In a written statement, 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. The Associated Press
