Chelsea Manning Is ‘Doing Well’ in Military Prison, Her Lawyer Says
Edited to add comments:
Looks like it’s working out like I hoped. I figured the small, below-capacity inmate population would work to her advantage, and hoped that the common military background would provide a “higher class” of fellow inmate than she would have found at a regular Federal prison. At a minimum they likely have some degree of self-discipline, and perhaps a bit more perspective.
If she’s found some friends/allies among the inmates, that ought to help her avoid problems with any potential hostile inmates.
It’s also a good sign that they made an exception for Manning, in giving her access to her lawyer during the initial period. I’m sure that was in part a PR move, given the abuse Manning was subjected earlier in her detention. But even that is useful, as they may make other exceptions if it provides useful PR.
More: Chelsea Manning Is ‘Doing Well’ in Military Prison, Her Lawyer Says
A lawyer for army private Chelsea Manning says the soldier is doing well as she goes through the indoctrination process at military prison.
David Coombs said on his blog on Thursday that he was able to speak with Manning, previously known as Bradley Manning, while she goes through the three-week indoctrination at Fort Leavenworth.
Coombs said inmates are not usually allowed to have outside contact during that time, but the US disciplinary barracks made an exception for Manning.
He said Wednesday was the first time he talked with Manning since she was sentenced to 35 years for leaking mountains of classified material to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks.
Coombs said Manning had made some friends and was grateful for the support for her decision to live as a woman.