FORT MEADE, Md., Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A hearing in the case against Pfc. Bradley Manning, accused of handing over classified documents to WikiLeaks, concluded Thursday at Fort Meade, Md.
Military lawyers said Manning used his Army intelligence training to leak tens of thousands of documents, causing a breach of national security, The New York Times reported. Prosecutors showed what they called an al-Qaida propaganda video in which terrorist operatives spoke of how they were able to exploit the leaks.
Manning "aided in the publication of those files, knowing that our enemies would use those files," the prosecution said.
Manning's lawyers didn't argue that their client was innocent of leaking information, but said the government was "over-charging" him and the leaks had not damaged national security, the Times reported. Defense lawyers said Manning, 24, viewed himself as a whistle-blower, not a traitor.
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Among other things, he is charged with aiding the enemy and violating the Espionage Act. He could face the death penalty if convicted on some of the more serious of the 22 charges he faces.
A legal document filed by Manning's lawyers suggests he told an unidentified person at the Kansas military prison where he is being held that WikiLeaks paid him for the leaked documents, CNN reported.
"(The unidentified man) will testify that he explained the purpose of his visit and asked PFC Manning who he was and why he was at the JRCF (Joint Regional Correction Facility)," the document says.
"PFC Manning allegedly responded with, 'I sold information to WikiLeaks,'" the document indicates.
"Shortly after this alleged statement, the guards realized that (name blacked out) should not have been in the pretrial area," the statement continues.
Manning allegedly told a hacker he didn't like the idea of selling the documents to Russia or China, though, because he said they belong in the public domain and "information should be free."
