Chelsea Manning: what was the basis for commuting her prison sentence?

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 11 May 2017 10:48:34 -0400

I haven't been following the Manning situation in a long time. I was wondering- can someone summarize for me what the basis was for commuting the rest of her sentence? I was surprised to see this, though I admit I haven't stayed close to proceedings here at all, so maybe my own ignorance.

https://www.luminairity.com/chelsea-release-statement/

Chelsea Manning, Legal Team on Manning’s Upcoming Release from Military Prison

For Immediate Release: May 9, 2017 Contact: Ryan Karerat, rkarerat@aclu.org Christina DiPasquale, christina@balestramedia.com Chelsea Manning, Legal Team on Manning’s Upcoming Release from Military Prison Next week, Chelsea Manning will be released from U.S. military prison after serving a seven-year sentence

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 10:52 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 10:52:02 -0400

CPT Aaron Kletzing on first glance it appears purely political in nature. A last day commutation to appease a portion of that particular person's base of support. I'll be honest, I have stopped paying attention, as well. I could care less, but if the punishment for the crime is not fulfilled, then it is setting a precedent that will cause ire later.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 10:52 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 10:52:20 -0400

Because he's the poster child for the liberal agenda.

Response by SSgt Ryan Sylvester made May 11 at 2017 10:59 AM

SSgt Ryan Sylvester — Thu, 11 May 2017 10:59:07 -0400

The official reason was because the time already served was more than sufficient for the crime and any further time would have negligible rehabilitative effect.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made May 11 at 2017 11:04 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:04:03 -0400

To appease the liberals... HE should have served HIS full sentence. The fact that he no longer has balls does not make him a female... It just makes him fit in better with the Liberals who support him

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made May 11 at 2017 11:04 AM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:04:38 -0400

The President is not required to provide a reason for exercising his power to pardon or commute a sentence. His stated reason was that the 35-year sentence was disproportionately long.

Response by LTC Orlando Illi made May 11 at 2017 11:23 AM

LTC Orlando Illi — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:23:54 -0400

It was Obama giving the finger to the UCMJ

Response by Cpl Joshua Caldwell made May 11 at 2017 11:35 AM

Cpl Joshua Caldwell — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:35:53 -0400

It is apolitical decision by people who are soft or worse, people who sympathize with traitors

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 11:54 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 11:54:08 -0400

I did not follow her case much toward the end. I am interested to hear others on this topic.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made May 11 at 2017 12:15 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Thu, 11 May 2017 12:15:33 -0400

While I don't know why either, I have the feeling a lot of criminals already missing Chelsea?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 12:48 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 12:48:03 -0400

Probably because the longest sentence previously imposed for that crime was in the two year range, making 35 cruel and unusual punishment.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made May 11 at 2017 12:54 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Thu, 11 May 2017 12:54:20 -0400

It was a wimp-out by President Obama..
He had given the other guy who had released sensitive info a break, so he figured he better give manning a break also.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 1:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 13:00:59 -0400

Basically Obama had a lot of pressure put on him by LGBT groups because Manning kept saying she wasn't being treated right in prison and blah blah. I think she should have served at least half of her 35 year sentence. Not seven years.

Like I said on the other post, she's going to get a plethora of book and movie deals I'm sure. Someone will want to make a movie and there are always books written.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 1:22 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 13:22:13 -0400

Because he could.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 1:46 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 13:46:15 -0400

Do not listen to the bullshit right wing ideology, they weren't saying the same thing about little bush, when he pardeoned libby for revealing a CIA operatives name. Which is classified

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2017 1:47 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 May 2017 13:47:28 -0400

He likely decided she had an inappropriate sentnce based on emotion and not in comport with Constetutikn guidelines

Response by SFC James Asbill made May 11 at 2017 3:16 PM

SFC James Asbill — Thu, 11 May 2017 15:16:29 -0400

There were NONE......... Execution was too good for this whatever it wants to be called ..

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 12 at 2017 11:03 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Fri, 12 May 2017 11:03:57 -0400

Whistleblowers aren't generally supposed to be jailed is my understanding...

Response by GySgt Charles O'Connell made May 12 at 2017 5:25 PM

GySgt Charles O'Connell — Fri, 12 May 2017 17:25:33 -0400

A seriously confused young man. A perfect CI target. Lacking in intellect, easily manipulated, a fool. Should he have done 35 years? I think so, there is no justification for what he did, none at all. If his convictions were so strong that he could not honor his commitment to his oath and country, then he should have had the balls to walk into his NCOIC's office and tell him. Sure it'd would been painful, he'd have been assigned some crap duty til discharged. But he could have walked out the door head held high. But no, he took the easy, deceitful path, no doubt manipulated by those that no longer return his calls. Fade away young Bradley, you've nothing left to say.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made May 13 at 2017 8:11 AM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sat, 13 May 2017 08:11:45 -0400

No valid reason. Strictly the political action of a president who has no respect for the military or the UCMJ

Response by CPO Robert (Mac) McGovern made May 13 at 2017 6:34 PM

CPO Robert (Mac) McGovern — Sat, 13 May 2017 18:34:18 -0400

A good basis is so we do not have to pay for the rest of the transition. I hope she finds happiness and fades away...but, like my mom used to say, there never was a pot so battered you could not find a lid to fit it. She should have remained a man; she makes a strange looking woman.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2017 4:52 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 May 2017 16:52:15 -0400

CPT Aaron Kletzing - Because feds don't execute women for espionage anymore? Sandy :)
p.s. I believe a major reason is we didn't want to transfer her as required to civilian fed prison.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made May 19 at 2017 5:19 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Fri, 19 May 2017 17:19:21 -0400

Julian Asssange promised Obama. That he would turn himself in. we know how that turned out.

Response by SFC Charles Temm made May 19 at 2017 6:27 PM

SFC Charles Temm — Fri, 19 May 2017 18:27:58 -0400

Political debt to the LGBT community and possibly just another thing to thumb his nose at his detractors.

Justice was not served but it's been some time since that was a prereq for such pardons/clemency by most presidents.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made May 31 at 2017 12:09 AM

PVT Raymond Lopez — Wed, 31 May 2017 00:09:00 -0400

In reference to the question “Chelsea Manning: what was the basis for commuting her prison sentence?” President Obama as the Constitutional Commander in Chief exercised his discretion he could have legally pardoned. President Clinton pardoned Marc Rich (born Marcell David Reich; December 18, 1934 – June 26, 2013) was an international commodities trader, fund manager, financier and businessman. He was best known for founding the commodities company Glencore and for being indicted in the United States on federal charges of tax evasion and making controversial oil deals with Iran during the Iran hostage crisis. He was in Switzerland at the time of the indictment and never returned to the United States. He received a controversial presidential pardon from U.S. President Bill Clinton on January 20, 2001, Clinton's last day in office.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Jun 4 at 2017 9:31 AM

MAJ Ron Peery — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 09:31:06 -0400

There is no "her".
Bradley Manning is a troubled soul who turned on his own. That said, I believe the commutation was purely political. Mr Obama thumbing his nose at us on the way out the door.