Prosecutors: Bradley Manning Wanted Attention for Leaks
FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) — Prosecutors say U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning betrayed his country's trust and gave military secrets to WikiLeaks to make a name for himself.
The prosecutors said during closing arguments Thursday in the soldier's court-martial that he knew the sensitive material he leaked would fall into the hands of al-Qaida.
Manning is charged with aiding the enemy, which carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison. His defense attorneys have argued there was no evidence he knew al-Qaida looked specifically at the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.
The former intelligence analyst has admitted giving WikiLeaks documents and videos, but he says the information did not harm troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and did not threaten national security.
Earlier, a military judge refused to dismiss theft charges against Manning.