WASHINGTON (AP) — An Army officer has recommended a general court-martial for a low-ranking intelligence analyst charged in the biggest leak of classified information in U.S. history.
Lt. Col. Paul Almanza’s recommendation regarding Pfc. Bradley Manning now goes up the chain of command for a final determination. Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington, commander of the Military District of Washington, ultimately will decide whether Pfc. Manning will stand trial.
Pfc. Manning faces 22 counts, including aiding the enemy, for allegedly giving more than 700,000 secret U.S. documents to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. Prosecutors say WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange collaborated with the soldier.
Defense lawyers say Pfc. Manning was clearly a troubled young soldier. They say the Army never should have sent him to Iraq or given him access to classified material.
Pfc. Manning, 24, is a native of Crescent, Okla.
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