Army rejects Manning request for clemency

A request for clemency by WikiLeaks source Chelsea Manning has been rejected, the U.S. Army announced Monday.

Last August, Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison after she was found guilty of 20 offenses including wrongful possession and transmission of national defense information.

At the sentencing hearing, Manning revealed her new identity as “Chelsea Manning.” She was previously a male named “Bradley Manning.” She said she would begin taking hormone therapy.

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington last week approved the findings and sentence given to Manning.

{mosads}With convening authority, Buchanan had the option of disapproving all or part of the findings.

“Convening authorities do not have authority to impose additional punishment or change a court finding of not guilty to guilty,” the Army said in a release.

In 2010, Manning leaked classified U.S. government information to WikiLeaks.

Her rank was also reduced to private and she was dishonorably discharged.

Manning will serve out her sentence at the military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kan. She must serve 11 to 12 years, but has already served more than three. The earliest she could be released is 2021, with parole. 

The Army said Monday the case will now be transferred to the Army Court of Criminal Appeals.