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Chelsea Manning attempted to take her own life, legal team confirms

Manning’s legal team say she will be kept under close observation for several weeks.

LAWYERS FOR THE soldier imprisoned in Kansas for sending classified information to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks have said that her hospitalisation last week was due to an attempted suicide.

Chelsea Manning’s legal team, in an email to media outlets, did not disclose details about the attempt early last Tuesday at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, where the 28-year-old is serving a 35-year sentence.

But the lawyers, who said they spoke to Manning by telephone yesterday for the first time since the attempt, accused the US Army of a “gross breach of confidentiality” for publicly revealing last week that Manning had been hospitalised.

The Army at that time didn’t offer details.

Under close observation 

Manning’s lawyers added that the soldier “knows that people have questions about how she is doing” and will remain under close observation at the prison for several weeks.

“She would have preferred to keep her private medical information private, and instead focus on her recovery,” said her lawyers, who appeared unaware of Manning’s hospitalisation until reached by reporters the next day and who criticised leaks of the information to media outlets.

“The government’s gross breach of confidentiality in disclosing her personal health information to the media has created the very real concern that they may continue their unauthorised release of information about her publicly without warning,” they said.

Messages left with an Army spokesman, Wayne Hall, were not immediately returned.

“For us, hearing Chelsea’s voice after learning that she had attempted to take her life last week was incredibly emotional,” the statement from her legal team read.

She is someone who has fought so hard for so many issues we care about and we are honoured to fight for her freedom and medical care.

Espionage violations 

Manning, arrested as Bradley Manning, was convicted in 2013 in military court of six Espionage Act violations and 14 other offences for leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents, plus some battlefield video.

Manning, who was an intelligence analyst in Iraq at the time, later filed a transgender prisoner rights lawsuit.

Manning has appealed the criminal case, arguing that her sentence was “grossly unfair” and that her actions were those of a naive, troubled soldier who aimed to reveal the toll of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The appeal contends Manning’s disclosures harmed no one, but prosecutors have said the leaked material damaged US security and identified informants who helped US forces.

If you need to talk, contact:

  • Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
  • Console 1800 247 247 – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)
  • Aware 1800 80 48 48 (depression, anxiety)
  • Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie – (suicide, self-harm)
  • Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
  • Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)

Read: Chelsea Manning hospitalised after reports of attempted suicide >

Read: Chelsea Manning’s chances of parole hurt by magazine and toothpaste charges >

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32 Comments
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    Mute Maurice Bourke
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    Jul 12th 2016, 8:40 AM

    You should remove console from the list at the end

    116
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Jul 12th 2016, 8:50 AM

    It’s still operating for now.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 12th 2016, 9:04 AM

    And maybe include a link where we can show our support for what she has done for us and wish her well

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    Mute Val
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    Jul 12th 2016, 8:28 AM

    Poor thing hope she is okay. It’s an absolute joke that she and Edward Snowden should have a horrible fates but the likes of that snake Hillary can become president, the double standard is sickening.

    108
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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Jul 12th 2016, 9:24 AM

    When she can be severely punished for having out of date toothpaste in her cell, I wonder what other bullying and torture they’ve inflicted on her to cause this?

    28
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    Mute Stiofain Murray
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    Jul 12th 2016, 10:01 AM

    I have no doubt his prison conditions are tough but you have to remember that he was suffering from depression and mental illness before he leaked those documents and before he was jailed.

    He is a hero he’s had mental illness a long time.

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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Jul 12th 2016, 10:27 AM

    She. If you consider Manning a hero, do her the decency of referring to her properly.

    51
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    Mute UndieGrundy
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    Jul 12th 2016, 10:53 AM

    He. Saying it so, doesn’t make it so. Let’s not ditch hard science for soft science.

    34
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    Mute Stiofain Murray
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    Jul 12th 2016, 10:55 AM

    Manning identifies as a woman Daisy – however biology disagrees.

    He may be of the female gender but his sex is male and always will be.

    There’s nothing disrespectful about that.

    37
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    Mute Alien8
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    Jul 12th 2016, 12:27 PM

    its the only subject where the journal proofread to make sure every reference is blatantly she/her, and it does read like they are struggling not to use capital letters all around. At least have respect for the journalists. With respect to all proponents of LGBT rights, Manning is still imprisoned and held as a male private who is under analysis and treatment for gender dysphoria, either term (he or she) can be used without offence in either context. As the army stated, ask references in the army should be gender neutral, and if the author of this piece replaced “Chelsea” with “Private”, and “she” with “they”, it would be totally equal, and cause no disrespect to anyone.

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    Mute Leighanna Rose
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    Jul 12th 2016, 1:45 PM

    “either term (he or she) can be used without offence in either context. ”

    no, Manning specifically has stated otherwise, and as a transgender woman I am telling you otherwise. please stop this.

    7
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    Mute Leighanna Rose
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    Jul 12th 2016, 1:45 PM

    are you a goddamn biologist Stiofain because I don’t think so

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    Mute Stiofain Murray
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    Jul 12th 2016, 2:00 PM

    Are you a goddamn woman Leighanna Rise because I don’t think so (regardless of how many times you jump up and down on the table).

    You are a man in a dress who thinks he is a woman,

    I wish you happiness in your life but you’re not a woman and never will be.

    15
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    Mute Deirdre O'Byrne
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    Jul 12th 2016, 2:27 PM

    Stiofan

    I can tell you this – one of the two of us is confused about my gender. Actually, either you are confused, or my Dad, sister, two brothers, two nieces, dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins, GPs, two psychiatrists, three psychologists etc etc are confused. My bet is it’s you not me.

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    Mute Stiofain Murray
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    Jul 12th 2016, 8:38 AM

    That’s a shame.

    He is a real hero and should be released.

    46
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    Mute Les J Matt
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    Jul 12th 2016, 10:51 AM

    Stiofsin
    It’s SHE nor he . Perhaps you are deliberately trying to be provocative.

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    Mute Les J Matt
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    Jul 12th 2016, 10:52 AM

    *not

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    Mute Stiofain Murray
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    Jul 12th 2016, 10:56 AM

    Manning identifies as a woman.

    That does not make it so.

    HE is a hero.

    SHE is a figment of his imagination,

    39
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    Mute Leighanna Rose
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    Jul 12th 2016, 1:07 PM

    the idea that you’re not actual human waste is entirely in your head Stiofain

    there is no “he” here. amazing that someone can do something heroic but by virtue of them being trans you still can’t respect their humanity.

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Jul 12th 2016, 1:30 PM

    Hardly really the point of the article. Just like someone being gay not affecting anyone it’s not really necessary to be dismissive of Manning’s identity as female. It doesn’t really affect you so why bother arguing the point when it really isn’t anywhere near central to either what her actions were or how it affects you as to whether she’s referred to as he or she…

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    Mute Leighanna Rose
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    Jul 12th 2016, 1:42 PM

    Because it’s important to Stiofain to uphold a system that brutalises trans women and keeps him at the top.

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    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
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    Jul 12th 2016, 8:57 AM

    Did he get his tackle removed?

    32
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    Mute Camroc
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    Jul 12th 2016, 9:32 AM

    I’d say if you call the army press office they’ll tell you no problem.

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    Mute Alien8
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    Jul 12th 2016, 12:29 PM

    No. Manning had been allowed some hormone therapy and women’s undergarments, but that is all – hence the suicide watch.

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    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
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    Jul 12th 2016, 12:48 PM

    So he’s still a bloke!!!

    16
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    Mute Leighanna Rose
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    Jul 12th 2016, 1:46 PM

    Get lost, Get Lost Eircodes.

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    Mute Get Lost Eircodes
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    Jul 12th 2016, 5:48 PM

    Don’t know what you are telling me to get lost for cos I’m actually a horse. Yes today I identify as a horse. Hehehehehe

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    Mute Proinsias O Foghlù
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    Jul 12th 2016, 8:21 AM

    First Chaka Khan and now Chelsea Manning what’s the world coming to?

    Slow news day.

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    Mute Andy Doyle
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    Jul 12th 2016, 9:36 AM

    Couldn’t agree more!

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 12th 2016, 6:55 PM

    The military tortured him, god knows what mental torture they did on him as well?

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    Mute Virtual Architect
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    Jul 13th 2016, 10:29 PM

    @Proinsias I take it you’ve watched the “collateral murder” video? If you haven’t then I’d advise you to keep your mouth shut about stuff you know SFA about.

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    Mute Virtual Architect
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    Jul 13th 2016, 10:21 PM

    Poor Chelsea Manning. That’s what you get for having a conscience. She’s got more balls than the rest of us. If you can’t respect what she did, then you really don’t have a clue about anything.

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