WASHINGTON (AP) — An Army officer is recommending 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. Military District of Washington commander Maj. Gen. Michael Linnington will ultimately decide whether Manning will stand trial.
He 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 Manning.
Defense lawyers say 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.
The 24-year-old Manning is a native of Crescent, Okla.
