After being imprisoned for seven years under draconian conditions which twice drove her to suicide, whistleblower Chelsea Manning has again been thrown behind bars for defending government transparency. Manning has been jailed in contempt of court after refusing to testify before a grand jury related to Assange and WikiLeaks, saying she “will accept whatever you bring upon me.”
“The judge said she will remain jailed until she testifies or until the grand jury concludes its work,” AP reports.
“Chelsea can be incarcerated for the remainder of the grand jury [up to 18 months], and the term of the grand jury can be extended by six months,” Manning’s attorney Moira Meltzer-Cohen told Business Insider.
“Note that Manning is not jailed as a ‘punishment’,” WikiLeaks tweeted. “She has formally been jailed to ‘coerce’ her into testifying against our journalists (including Assange) for publishing the truth about the US government. She will remain in jail until she breaks and complies or wins on appeal.”
tomorrow i’m facing a sealed contempt hearing for refusing to testify at a secret grand jury over my 2010 disclosures
statement: pic.twitter.com/M1uhssUzXh
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) March 7, 2019
Manning responded to all of the grand jury questions by saying, “I object to the question and refuse to answer on the grounds that the question is in violation of my First, Fourth, and Sixth Amendment, and other statutory rights.” Manning explained her decision in the following statement:
“I will not comply with this, or any other grand jury. Imprisoning me for my refusal to answer questions only subjects me to additional punishment for my repeatedly-stated ethical objections to the grand jury system. The grand jury’s questions pertained to disclosures from nine years ago, and took place six years after an in-depth computer forensics case, in which I testified for almost a full day about these events. I stand by my previous public testimony. I will not participate in a secret process that I morally object to, particularly one that has been historically used to entrap and persecute activists for protected political speech.”
Manning’s defense team further explained her objection to being forced to testify:
“Due to their secretive nature and limitless subpoena power, the government has utilized grand jury processes as tools for garnering information about movements by questioning witnesses behind closed doors. Since testimony before grand juries is secret, grand juries can create fear by suggesting that some members of a political community may be secretly cooperating with the government. In this way, grand juries can seed suspicion and fear in activist communities.”
Daniel Ellsberg, who like Manning is one of the greatest American whistleblowers of all time, made the following statement upon Manning’s arrest:
“Chelsea Manning is again acting heroically in the name of press freedom, and it’s a travesty that she has been sent back to jail for refusing to testify to a grand jury. An investigation into WikiLeaks for publishing is a grave threat to all journalists’ rights, and Chelsea is doing us all a service for fighting it. She has already been tortured, spent years in jail, and has suffered more than enough. She should be released immediately.”
“Really this isn’t about Chelsea Manning at all,” journalist Ben Swann told RT today. “It’s really about for the government to try and to create a concept, a narrative, in which they demonstrate that Assange and WikiLeaks assisted Manning in retrieving and obtaining classified documents, which WikiLeaks then published. And the reason that’s significant is because, under the Espionage Act, they want to charge Assange with having committed espionage against the United States.”
In other words, they can’t arrest Assange for publishing leaks given to WikiLeaks, but they can try to manipulate a narrative that he was involved in Manning’s exfiltration of government documents. This seems like the most plausible scenario to me, and since WikiLeaks shared Swann’s comments on the outlet’s Twitter account it seems they find it plausible as well.
And of course the fauxgressives who’ve been shrieking about Trump’s “war on the press” for two years have nothing to say about this administration setting a horrifying precedent by throwing a whistleblower in jail in order to force a journalist’s source to testify against them. Of course the McResistance who’s been screaming bloody murder about Trump saying mean things about Jim Acosta has nothing whatsoever to say about this administration pursuing the arrest of a journalist in a precedent which would be devastating for press freedoms around the world.
“If Chelsea Manning changed her name to ‘Pussy Riot’ and her location to ‘Russia,’ we might hear some outrage from official Washington and the Beltway press corps that claims to care so much about press freedom,” said journalist Max Blumenthal today.
“I continue to find it astounding that media stars have spent two years prancing around proclaiming Trump poses a grave threat to press freedom because he tweets insults at Chuck Todd, while they ignore by far the greatest press freedom threat: their attempt to prosecute WikiLeaks,” added journalist Glenn Greenwald.
“If a pundit complains that Trump sending mean tweets about cable news anchors is an existential threat to press freedom, but then says nothing about Chelsea Manning being re-incarcerated (she’s one of the most important journalistic sources in US history) you know they are frauds,” said journalist Michael Tracey.
If Chelsea Manning changed her name to "Pussy Riot" and her location to "Russia," we might hear some outrage from official Washington and the Beltway press corps that claims to care so much about press freedom https://t.co/nQg0bYwYli
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) March 8, 2019
The United States government has just re-imprisoned one of the nation’s greatest whistleblowers to coerce her into helping to destroy the world’s greatest leak publisher, both of whom exposed undeniably true facts about war crimes committed by that same United States government. Truth tellers are being actively persecuted by this same power structure which claims it has the moral authority to topple governments and interfere in international affairs around the world, exactly because they told the truth. Please take a moment to make sure you’re really appreciating this.
Assange started a leak outlet on the premise that corrupt power can be fought with the light of truth, and corrupt power has responded by smearing, silencing, and persecuting him and doing everything it can to stomp out the light of truth, up to and including re-imprisoning an already viciously brutalized American hero like Chelsea Manning. This is as clear-cut an admission as you could possibly get that the most powerful forces in our world are not at all what they pretend to be. Those who run US government agencies and their collaborators are monsters, and they’re not even hiding it.
You can contribute to Chelsea Manning’s legal fund by clicking here. You can also write her a letter (thread on acceptable materials here) at:
Chelsea Elizabeth Manning
William G. Truesdale Adult Detention Center
2001 Mill Road
Alexandria, VA 22314
28 responses to “US Re-Imprisons Manning To Coerce Her To Testify Against WikiLeaks”
You are such a hero for pointing to the facts so straight, Caitlin! Every word is a bullet, every sentence a drumfire.
It’s in plain sight: The US Government – including the courts and lawmakers are completely mad, and in total fear – like cornered animals. They know that heroes like you, Lee Camp, Jimmy Dore, Max Blumenthal, Aaron Maté, Suzie Dawn, etc. will bring each and every one of their lies, murders, tortures, illegal wars and criminal deeds to light. Bravo and good courage!
Every day that this farce is continued, the government of the “united” States delegitimizes itself. They are beyond reproach of war criminals at this point.
The fact that they are being exposed for their criminal activities is their own fault. How many of their voting-age citizens would have consented to them performing these acts of destruction would have voted for them to continue? You can count me out of that limited group of morons.
Based upon the way they are acting, the government of the united States has passed it’s “use-by” date.
Were you at the rally yesterday, Caitlin? I looked for you there.
It would have been great if you had been there and had also made a speech.
The excessive powers of the US government are plainly totalitarian. A legitimate government does not have the power to conduct court or grand jury hearings in secret, except in rare special circumstances of witness protection.
Following the Eureka Stockade and its tumultuous aftermath the Victorian government passed a law that no-one could be prosecuted for treason except on grand jury indictment. But they abolished grand juries half a century ago. Anyway, why does a grand jury have a judge? They are supposed to be the people, not the judiciary.
A legitimate government, as distinct from a totalitarian regime, accepts the limits of its power, realizes in certain circumstance it can’t proceed. That is what the Magna Carta was all about, limits to the king’s power.
The ugliness of this case brings to mind another issue. The judge (uness I missed it) has not been named. But the question that comes to my mind relates to the religion of the judge. Does the judge adhere to the religion of love and mercy, or to the legallistic religion of hate and revenge (called justice)? I think I can guess which was needed in this case.
Truth for today!
*(Anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews express solidarity with Rep. Ilhan Omar. Credit: Yasin Öztürk/ AA)
https://ahtribune.com/us/2939-ilhan-omar-aipac-israel-zionism.html
I need to laught, so your doo too! Besta belly in years!
http://www.unz.com/ldinh/im-your-next-president/
The Deep State consists of at least Congress, Pentagon, CIA, FBI, NSA, DoJ, judges and prosecutors, and usually the White House. Plus the Federal Reserve, the banks, the MSM and all lobbyists. It would have to, otherwise it would tear itself apart and never get entrenched. Whistleblower protective legislation is just window-dressing, as can be seen in this case, and that of Assange’s.
I urge everybody, but especially Caitlin, to protect themselves against NSA snooping by adopting a fictitious political persona, using a VPN service, and using end-to-end encryption whenever possible. NSA has files on everyone in the world, ranked by their danger to the Deep State, and will be sweeping them off the streets and into prison if/when things get more precarious for them. “First they came for the terrorists, …”
So hard to read this right after reading about Trump signing Bibles in AL. What a world. Fight the good fight, Chelsea! We are behind you!
Trumps O.D.S. (Obama Derangement Syndrome: Anything you can do I can do worser.)
So Chelsea Manning is jailed on International Women’s day. Coincidence or not, that is how their brains work.
Chelsea Manning, Meng Wenzhou, Maria Butina, Reality Winner. So proud to be part of a country that says “Do what we say or we will hurt your women and you can do nothing about it.” What do we have against women? “Actually, nothing” muses the ghost of Seth Rich.
What does jailing a man on International Women’s Day have to do with anything?
You cannot change your biological sex, no matter what you chop off, mutilate or wear as clothing.
Perhaps you need to rethink your understandings about gender identificiation. Gender is as much a state of mind as it is biological appendages.
Further, in the US gender identity and its variations are one of the core issues of the Women’s Movement in the US. Thus, it is a serious attack on women, in all our varieties to arrest Chelsea on that important day. It says that women, once again, are being denied the right of self-determination. It is the essence of sexism and patriarchy that women are prevented from having control over their body and life.
“Those who run US government agencies and their collaborators are monsters, and they’re not even hiding it.”
=====
..
And “they” have been this way since at least the end of WWII. This tradition is carried on because only the “proper” people are hired by “Mosters Inc.” and there is always an abundant supply of monsters banging at the door, trying like hell to prove that they are better, more effective monsters than those in the crowd around them. “Just give me a chance to kill”, they all shout.
“[Corrupt power can be fought with the light of truth, and corrupt power has responded by smearing, silencing, persecuting . . . everything it can to stomp out the light of truth, up to and including double jeopardy re-imprisoning, and viciously brutalizing/torturing – publicly. This is as clear as you could possibly get: The most powerful forces in our world are not at all what they have pretended to be. Now, they are not even hiding it.]” (For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Luke 8:17)
Shouldn’t the ACLU and Amnesty International both be involved in a case like this?
Among other travesties, this is clearly a case of Double Jeopardy which is a violation of Manning’s 5th Amendment rights. ‘Our’ government has become the world’s leading criminal establishment both in foreign and domestic policies, corrupt to the core and in many ways the enemy of the people. I’m sad to witness the persecution of courageous and honorable people like Manning, while the perpetrators of genocide and ecocide continue to operate freely and the corporate media cover up their dastardly deeds. There is at least some consolation in the existence of these whistleblowers and the truth tellers like Ms. Johnstone who deserve our gratitude and support.
Chelsea Manning is a true hero, as are John Kiriacou who ratted out rat criminal thugs in the CIA, a hard core criminal organization, Sibel Edmonds who ratted out criminals in the FBI, which has also always been a hard core criminal organization which was run by closet case creepy pedophile, and cross dressing deviant fuck, J. Edgar Hoover, an historical analogue of James Comey the Clown, a total deviant creep, Thomas Drake, who ratted out criminality in the criminal organization known as the National inSecurity Agency, run by hard core criminal fucks, and the 6 or so other whistle blowers who ratted out hard core criminal rat thugs in the U.S. DOJ, also mostly a criminal organization, and branches of the U.S. armed services, also mostly criminal organizations that have absolutely nothing to do with defending America, but rather are the tip of the spear for corrupt international corporate interests wanting to exploit resources, including human ones, in countries around the world. The criminal Obama administration–Barry Sotero is a closeted homosexual which is why Chicago gave him the name Bath House Barry because he used to frequent gay establishments, as is Rahm Emanuel, also a Zionist POS–worked over time to ruin the lives of these brave American patriots. The Bush, Clinton, and Obama Crime Families all belong in prison. They’re the scum of the earth. I’ll reserve judgement on whether or not Assange, and Snowden are U.S. deep state assets. I’m 50/50 on them being that, as I am 50/50 on Trump being for real in what he appears to be doing to bring down the deep state. There is not much doubt that one of his first executive orders resulted in large numbers of criminals in Congress, none of whom were weak electorally, including the fuck stick POS globalist con artist Paul Ryan, who has always been on public payroll, and a Koch brothers sucker, not seeking reelection, and a large numbers of CEO’s stepping down, including the scum bag CEO of the Red Cross, POS Eric Schmidt, a deep state thug, and many others.
Thanks Caitlin.
Until the day the 99 % rise up and crush the entire system of the greedy 1% and create from the bottom up a new form of society propaganda and blatant lies about journalism will continue. Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange are the bravest of us. The American way of life reflect a society widely considered the number one problem of planet earth.
This is absolutely outragous, the Judge is an absolute grub, and a traitor to the Human race, he is the one whom should be in jail, and with chains around his ankles too! This is NOT justice, this is outright unlawful by the International Law AND Human Rights!
Manning AND Julian are both hero’s in my opinion, good on them for showing strength, courage and fearlessness! They, represent Freedom and Justice, and lead the way forward for ALL of us! Send the criminal judge to jail, and the Demcratic Leaders, they also deserve to be in irons!
Perhaps another purpose for the government’s pressure to get Manning to testify anew is to try to entrap her should she say anything slightly different from her original testimony?
Chelsea Manning is a light unto the world,
The WC (Washington consensus) people persecuting her (and Julian Assange) and all life on this planet are neo-human (the neo-cons, neo-libs, neo-opposition, neo-MSM, etc).
Perhaps we could invent a new term for this evil broad spectrum alliance of anti-life: NEO-ANDERTHALS (with sincere apologies to Neanderthals).
They are knuckle-dragging clubmen/clubwomen, jungle dwellers, pre-civilised humanoids, killers, mentally challenged, all hopefully doomed to extinction.
Free Assange! Free Manning!
It is worth noting that if one if ever faced with the government wanting to put you on a jury that you view as unethical you can declare your belief (and right, IMO) to “jury nullification” which means a judge can not use you as a tool for government over-reach. You essentially are saying as peer of the defendent you have the right to consider sentencing and your own sense of justice in acting on the jury. Nothing will get you off a jury faster.
My thoughts go to Chelsea Manning tonight – what a brave person to stand on her principals in the face of such vindictive persecution. I am at a loss for words in my disgust for the monstrosity that the USA empire has mutated into. Thanks Caitlin for having the words and using them so well.
Mine too! I probably would have used the word ‘metasticize’ both hey — At 82+ I never expected to live to have to watch my adopted country die.
As usual, excellent points with respect to the “mainstream” media’s utter disregard for real journalism and the true spirit of the First and Fourteenth Amendments protection of a free and independent press. Jim Acosta’s bad conduct called to task, hysterics, real violations of freedom of the press, ho hum.
So where is he? Black site perhaps https://www.reuters.com/article/us-norway-wikileaks-kamphuis/belongings-of-missing-wikileaks-associate-kamphuis-found-in-norway-police-idUSKCN1LS1MG
Feels like McCarthism all over again. Time to remind people of this draconian piece of history
Thank you Caitlin for the update and support links.
–
The Evil Empire Strikes Back —————————–
————– against so-called Constitutional Rights