Arraignment set for Bradley Manning in Wikileaks case

Posted: 12:20 pm Thu, February 9, 2012
By Associated Press

FORT MEADE — An Army private accused of leaking classified material to the anti-secrecy website Wikileaks will be back in a military courtroom for an arraignment later this month.

The arraignment for Pfc. Bradley Manning will be held at Fort Meade on Feb. 23.

Manning faces a general court-martial on 22 counts, including aiding the enemy, which carries a possible life sentence.

At the arraignment, Manning can request a trial by military judge or jury. The jury would include at least five officers, and Manning can ask that at least one-third of the soldiers on the panel be enlisted.

Military prosecutors say Manning gave Wikileaks a trove of sensitive battlefield reports and diplomatic cables. Defense lawyers say Manning was a troubled soldier who shouldn’t have had access to classified material.