May 23, 2013
FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) -- An Army private charged in the largest leak of classified material in U.S. history says he sent the material to WikiLeaks to enlighten the public about American foreign and military policy.
Pfc. Bradley Manning gave a detailed explanation of his actions in a military courtroom Thursday as he entered guilty pleas to some charges.
A judge is weighing whether to accept Manning's guilty plea to reduced charges on 10 counts. But even if the plea is accepted, prosecutors can still pursue a court-martial on the remaining charges. One of those charges is aiding the enemy, which carries a possible life sentence.
Manning says he didn't feel any of the information was harmful to the United States, though he thought the State Department cables would be "embarrassing."
