Defense Questions Why Army Gave Bradley Manning Access To Govt. Secrets
FORT MEADE, Md. (WJZ)-- It's the biggest leak of classified information in U.S. history. Attention was turned once again Sunday to the military hearing at Fort Meade that will determine if an Army private will be court-martialed for providing government secrets to WikiLeaks.
Pat Warren reports on Sunday's testimony.
The defense claims Army supervisors should have known better than to give Pfc. Bradley Manning access to classified information.
"Stand up for whistleblowers!"
Demonstrators rallied outside Fort Meade as the preliminary hearing for Army intelligence specialist Bradley Manning continued through the weekend.
"If Bradley Manning did what he's accused of, I and all these people here and a lot of other people consider him a hero," one Manning supporter said.
But while demonstrators took a stand for Manning, government witnesses took the stand against him.
Manning is accused of providing classified information posted on WikiLeaks-- documents the Obama administration claims compromised military sources and U.S. government relations with other countries.
He allegedly released this video of an American helicopter attack that killed 11 people in Iraq, and a witness testified classified information was found at Manning's aunt's house in Potomac.
His attorneys are building a defense on Manning's emotional state, including gender-identity issues and testimony from witnesses describing fits of rage. They say the Army should have revoked his access to government secrets.
The Army says it could be weeks before a decision is reached on whether Manning should be court-martialed.
Manning could also receive administration punishment or the charges could be dismissed.
