Manning gets new military lawyer

FORT MEADE, Md., April 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army private accused of leaking classified documents to the Web site WikiLeaks was granted a request Tuesday for a new military lawyer.

Pfc. Bradley Manning requested the two lawyers who had been assigned to him, Maj. Matthew Kemkes and Capt. Paul Bouchard, be removed and replaced with Capt. Joshua Tooman, CNN reported. The U.S. Network said no reason was given for replacing the lawyers with Tooman, who will work with David Coombs, the civilian attorney Manning has hired.

Col. Denise Lind, the judge in the case, granted Manning's motion.

The government provides at least one military lawyer to each defendant in military court at no charge.

Supporters of Manning are paying Coombs.

Maj. Ashden Fein, the chief prosecutor in the Manning case, said some of the lawyers on the prosecutor's side have changed as well.

The charges against Manning include aiding the enemy, wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the Internet, transmitting national defense information and theft of public property or records. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

Coombs has yet to say whether he'll request a trial by a military judge, a panel of senior officers or a panel that includes one-third enlisted non-commissioned officers, CNN said.