Attorneys debate Bradley Manning's sexual orientation at Wiki Leaks hearing
Sat. December 17, 2011 11:37 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Fort Meade, Va. -
Pfc. Bradley Manning spent his 24th birthday in a courtroom near Washington, D.C. Saturday listening to attorneys argue whether his sexuality had another to do with his allegedly sharing thousands of classified documents with Wiki Leaks.
The defense said that Manning had warned a supervisor in Baghdad that he had gender identity disorder and sent a photo of himself dressed as a woman. He said the disorder was making it hard for him to think clearly.
Witnesses in the court martial said Manning should have had his security clearance suspended.
"Pfc. Manning's leadership failed him," said special agent Troy Bettencourt.
Most witnesses testified that he had known Manning was gay as they started working on the case. Defense attorneys were also trying to argue that pressure of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy might have caused Manning to make bad decisions.
The defense said that Manning had warned a supervisor in Baghdad that he had gender identity disorder and sent a photo of himself dressed as a woman. He said the disorder was making it hard for him to think clearly.
Witnesses in the court martial said Manning should have had his security clearance suspended.
"Pfc. Manning's leadership failed him," said special agent Troy Bettencourt.
Most witnesses testified that he had known Manning was gay as they started working on the case. Defense attorneys were also trying to argue that pressure of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy might have caused Manning to make bad decisions.