PFC Manning’s Written Statement in Support of his Guilty Plea
Our office is in the process of obtaining approval to release the statement PFC Manning read to the Court in support of his providence inquiry on 28 February 2013. As with every Defense filing, the statement will be reviewed and redacted prior to publication. An alternative transcription of PFC Manning’s statement is currently available from journalist Alexa O’Brien and also at the Bradley Manning Support Network.
On 28 February 2013, the Military Judge accepted PFC Manning’s plea of guilty to certain lesser included offenses, which carry a maximum sentence of twenty years of confinement. Through his plea of guilty, PFC Manning has accepted responsibility for his actions of releasing information to Wikileaks.
PFC Manning did not plead guilty pursuant to a “plea bargain” or “plea deal” with the Government. Despite his plea, the Government has indicated it will prosecute PFC Manning on the remaining charges. The Defense will vigorously contest these charges at trial, which is currently scheduled to begin on 3 June 2013.