Alexa OBrien › Chelsea Manning

A case for Executive mercy for Chelsea Manning

Jan14

Manning was born and grew up in an age of information. Her leaks are proportional to it, even if they understandably shocked the institutions and society with their advent. Her guilelessness evokes the kind of earnest protagonist in a classic fictional war story. Like in Thin Red Line or Catch 22 Manning was a humanist soldier trapped by cynical realities of warfare and her own incapacity to deaden her senses and willful and disobedient conscience clinging onto the exigent hope that sanity and common sense would triumph if buttressed by knowledge and deliberation. Whether or not the reality of such an ideal is real or a fairy tale we tell ourselves remains to be seen. An act of mercy by the Executive, might evidence its virtuous display in our great and fallible experiment in self government.

Chelsea Manning Charged Documents

Sep16

In the summer of 2013, Private Chelsea Manning was convicted of six offenses of violating the Espionage Act and one violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act for disclosing portions of approximately 227 documents to WikiLeaks. Manning was not charged as a spy. Below is one of several instances that military prosecutors told the court, that Manning was not charged as a spy under the Espionage Act. (See FOIA…

‘What happens to society in the absence of an alternative, counter-narrative to that of the national security state?’ (My presentation at the Center for Investigative Journalism in London)

Aug4

Below are a few of the questions that I raised in a recent presentation that I gave at The Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) in London (video below): Five years after Manning's leaks are we capable of deliberation and thoughtfulness? Are we capable of human agency in the age of leaks and myriad weak social ties? What happens to society in the absence of an alternative, counter-narrative to that of…

Key details about the ‘bin Laden evidence’ in Chelsea Manning’s court-martial (UPDATED No. 2)

May17

UPDATES ARE BELOW This post intends to provide a detailed account of classified evidence, which the U.S. government used at Chelsea Manning's court-martial, and which it asserts was obtained during the May 2011 raid of Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Statements made about the 'bin Laden evidence' by the government in a court of law have more weight than statements or hearsay made by Executive agents to the…

FISA Information in the Manning Trial

May4

I wish to highlight for the public record an instance of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) information in Chelsea Manning's court-martial, which is also part of the U.S. Government's intelligence and criminal investigations into WikiLeaks. What remains unclear, as national security commentator Marcy Wheeler put it to me, is whether the FISA information is probable cause content targeted at a U.S. person (Title I and Title III) or another tool…

State Department declassified portions of 44 of 116 cables charged against Manning under Espionage Act after her arrest

Apr18

On the fifth anniversary of the publication of the July 2007 U.S. Baghdad, Iraq airstrike video (which killed up to twelve individuals including two journalists and also injured two children), the International Festival of Journalism (held in Perugia, Italy) hosted a panel to discuss Chelsea Manning and other whistleblowers. I revealed for the first time that the Department of State declassified portions of 44 of the 116 diplomatic cables charged…

Six videos used as defense exhibits in US v. Pfc. Manning released to me in ongoing FOIA request to Army

Apr5

I currently have several hundred Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act requests with every federal agency of the United States government and several current or upcoming FOIA/PA lawsuits in the works. On March 25, 2015, the U.S. Army released six video exhibits used by Chelsea Manning's defense at her trial in the summer of 2013. While they contain public information, they are not generally know in this context. These…

More on the State Department First ‘Official’ Release of a Hillary Clinton Email resulting from my FOIA lawsuit

Mar7

Heavily redacted emails (including one to the former secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s personal account in violation of official policy, which was featured in an article about my Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by Jason Leopold at Vice News), provide critical new insight into the untold story of how high level State Department officials handled Private Chelsea Manning’s disclosures and their subsequent publication by the WikiLeaks organization. My attorney Jeff…

Google disclosed secret search warrants six months after judge’s unsealing order.

Feb11

Public docketing and confirmations to the clerks in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia by the U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, who was responsible for filing all three search warrants for WikiLeaks staffer's email content in March 2012, reveal that Google waited six months to disclose the existence of the search warrants by the U.S. Department of Justice, despite a May 15, 2014 ruling by Magistrate…

The Case of Chelsea Manning (31c3 Presentation)

Dec30

A discussion with U.S. Army private Chelsea Manning's attorneys Nanny Hollander, Ahmed Ghappour, and Chase Strangio. Moderated by journalist Alexa O'Brien. In the Summer of 2013, Manning was convicted under the Espionage and Computer Fraud and Abuse Acts and sentenced to 35 years in prison for disclosing battlefield reports from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Guantanamo prison camp detainee profiles, and U.S. diplomatic correspondence. She currently is imprisoned at…

Emails & new warrants raise questions about investigators’ conduct in Manning criminal probe

Jul12

UPDATE CLICK HERE Two weeks into the former U.S. Army intelligence analyst, Chelsea Manning's, three year long court-martial last summer, military and federal prosecutors were still seeking evidence against the twenty-six year old from Google. Manning is currently serving a 35 year sentence at the Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, after she was convicted on twenty offenses for disclosing low-level U.S. Army field reports, diplomatic cables, and other government…

Newly published secret grand jury orders & other docs shed light on US investigation now entering 5th year

Feb17

Newly published documents, including sealed court orders from the secret Department of Justice grand jury investigating WikiLeaks, shed light on the manner and scope of the criminal and intelligence probes into Julian Assange and civilians associated with the online publisher of censored material. Diplomatic Security Services, the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of State, along with "other elements of the U.S. government," began investigating the unauthorized disclosure of…

’07KINGSTON25 JAMAICA MALARIA UPDATE’, Dispatches from Fort Meade, Reporting on the secret trial of Chelsea Manning (30C3 Presentation)

Dec27

At Fort George 'Orwell' Meade, home of the NSA and the U.S. Defense Information School, managing the message at Chelsea Manning's trial was facilitated by a lack of public access to most of the court filings and rulings until 18 months into her legal proceeding. While Manning disclosed approximately 750,000 documents to WikiLeaks, only 240 of those documents were charged against her under the Espionage and Computer Fraud and Abuse…

Update on Released Exhibits and Missing Transcripts for US v Pfc. Manning

Dec15

For the last few months, the Center for Constitutional Rights has been finalizing its suit against Chief Judge Col. Denise Lind filed in the federal district court in Baltimore, Maryland. The CCR suit is seeking access to documents and closed sessions in the court-martial of Private First Class Manning. On August 21, 2013 Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison on twenty offenses including espionage, exceeding authorized access, stealing…

The Sentencing of Chelsea Manning: Alexa O’Brien’s Exclusive Interview with Attorney David Coombs

Aug21

On August 21, 2013 The Sparrow Project partnered with Jeff Wirth of Burning Hearts Media to produce Alexa O'Brien's exclusive interview with David Coombs, lead civilian counsel for Private First Class Manning. An excerpt of this interview aired that afternoon on Huffpost Live and was embedded on Huffington Post. The next morning, 40 minutes of this interview aired on Democracy Now!. The following is Alexa's interview with David in its…

Defense and possible prosecution rebuttal witness for sentencing, Col. David Miller, commander 2 BCT/10 MTN | US v Pfc. Manning

Aug8

UPDATED Col. David Miller commander of the Second Brigade, 10th Mountain Division will testify Monday for the defense in the sentencing trial of Pfc. Manning. Miller may also reappear in a possible rebuttal case by the prosecution. Col. David M. Miller was the most senior officer in Manning's chain of command in the 2 BCT/10th MTN. Defense Sentencing Case Defense is likely to highlight the breakdown in Manning's chain of…

3 Classified Damage Assessments to be used as Evidence in Sentencing Phase | US v Pfc. Manning

Jul30

Today, the presiding military judge, Col. Denise Lind found Manning guilty of 20 offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice including the Espionage Act, The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and Steal U.S. Government Property. Manning faces up to 136 years in a military prison, dishonorable discharge; and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. Unlike a federal criminal trial, where sentencing occurs after the creation of a pre-sentencing report,…

Breakdown on the Imminent Verdict | US v Pfc. Manning

Jul29

Pfc. Manning is charged with 22 offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He pled to 10 lesser included offenses and currently faces up to 20 years. Manning will face life plus 154 years in a military prison if convicted on the prosecution's case. The presiding military judge, Col. Denise Lind, will announce her findings on Manning's guilt or innocence at 1:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, July 30. Below…

The names and information for the expected 13 USG sentencing witnesses with classified testimony | US v Pfc. Manning

Jul18

Below is a list of thirteen witnesses for the prosecution expected to testify in closed session or by classified stipulations of testimony in the sentencing phase of United States v. Pfc. Manning. Manning opted to be tried by military judge alone in lieu of a panel of officers and/or enlisted personnel. After the closing arguments, which will follow the prosecution's rebuttal case (as well as the presiding military judge Col.…

5 Violations of a Failure to Obey Army Regulation 25-2 and 380-5 | US v Pfc. Manning

Jul9

Manning pled not guilty to four violations of a failure to obey Army Regulation 25-2, concerning Information Assurance, for allegedly adding Wget to two separate Army computers, trying to crack the administrator password on his one of his computers, and using an Army information system other than intended by downloading the unclassified U.S. Forces - Iraq Microsoft SharePoint Server Global Address List. Manning pled guilty for a failure to obey…

Criminal Elements and Definitions for Stealing 5 U.S.G. databases for Iraq War Logs, Afghan War Diary, GTMO Files, Cablegate, US-I GAL

Jul8

The Uniform Code of Military Justice (U.C.M.J.) is the law applicable to all military members and is passed by Congress. Article 134 is reserved for crimes that do not exist under the regular punitive Articles of the U.C.M.J. and which involve "disorders and neglects to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces"; or "conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces"; and/or finally,…

Criminal Elements and Definitions for ‘exceed authorized access’ CFAA 18 USC 1030(a)(1) | US v Pfc. Manning

Jul2

Criminal Elements and Definitions for Wanton Publication and State Dept, CIA, FBI, and Classified Witnesses | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun30

Manning pled not guilty to "Wanton Publication" in February. If convicted he is exposed to a maximum punishment of two years confinement. Elements In order to find Manning guilty of this offense, the presiding military judge (Manning opted to be tried by military judge alone) must be convinced by legal and competent evidence beyond reasonable doubt: Element (1) That at or near Contingency Station Hammer, Iraq, between on or about…

Criminal Elements and Definitions Aiding the Enemy and State Dept, CIA, FBI, and Classified Witnesses | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun30

Manning pled not guilty to aiding the enemy. Aiding the enemy is a capital offense. Military prosecutors are recommending life in prison, but the presiding military judge has the authority to impose the death penalty. If Manning is convicted of aiding the enemy, he will spend the rest of his life in prison. Elements In the specification of Charge I, Manning is charged with the offense of Aiding the Enemy…

James Moore, Dep Asst Sec Bur of South and Central Asian Affairs, State Dept Unclassified Stipulation (Charged Cables w/Links) | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun28

James Moore is Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the Department of State. On June 27, 2013 the following unclassified redacted stipulation of testimony was read into the court record. According to an unpublished transcript of the May 21, 2013 Article 39(a) session, Moore was to testify in the U.S.G.'s case for The Specification, Charge I; Spec 1, 12, and 13, Charge II, which are…

Don Yamamoto Asst Sec of State for African Affairs, State Dept, Unclassified Stipulation (Charged Cables w/Links) | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun28

Ambassador Don Yamamoto is the former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary within the Bureau of African Affairs, currently serving as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Department of State. On June 27, 2013 the following unclassified and redacted stipulation of testimony was read into the court record. According to an unpublished transcript of the May 21, 2013 Article 39(a) session, Yamamoto was to testify in the U.S.G.'s case for The…

John Feeley, PDAS Bur of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Dept of State Unclassified Stipulation (Charged Cables and Links) | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun28

John Feeley is the Principle Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State. On June 27, 2013 the following unclassified and redacted stipulation of testimony was read into the court record. 20130627 (PE 169a) Unclassified Redacted Stipulation of Expected Testimony (PDAS John Feeley, Department of State) (PDF) 20130627 (PE 169a) Unclassified Redacted Stipulation of Expected Testimony (PDAS John Feeley, Department of State) (Text)…

H. Dean Pittman, PDAS Bureau of International Org Affairs, State Dept Unclassified Stipulation (Charged Cables w/ Links) | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun28

H. Dean Pittman, Principal Acting Assistant Secretary Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of State. The Bureau of International Organization Affairs is the primary interlocutor with the United Nations and is charged with advancing the President's agenda and the national interests of the United States. On June 27, 2013 the following unclassified and redacted stipulation of testimony was read into the Court record. According to an unpublished transcript of the…

AMB David Pearce, Acting SRAP State Dept Unclassified Stipulation (Charged Cables w/ Links) | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun28

Ambassador David Pearce is the current U.S. Acting Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan and former Assistant Chief of Mission at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. On June 27, 2013 the following unclassified and redacted stipulation of testimony was read into the court record. 20130627 (PE 171a) Unclassified Redacted Stipulation of Expected Testimony (AMB David Pearce, Department of State) (PDF) 20130627 (PE 171a) Unclassified Redacted Stipulation of Expected Testimony…

Marie Yovanovitch Asst Sec of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, State Dept, Unclassified Stipulation (Charged Cables w/Links) | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun28

Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch is the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, in addition to her role as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of State. On June 27, 2013 the following unclassified and redacted stipulation of testimony was read into the court record. According to an unpublished transcript of the May 21, 2013 Article 39(a) session, Yovanovitch was to testify in the U.S.G.'s case for The Specification,…

Stephen Seche, Former US AMB to Yemen Bur of Near East Affairs, State Dept Unclassified Stipulation(s) (Charged/Uncharged Cables w/ Links) | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun28

Ambassador Stephen Seche, formerly United States Ambassador to Yemen, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), Department of State. The NEA deals with U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic relations with Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Regional policy issues include the war in Iraq, Middle East peace, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and political and…

Joseph Yun, Asst Sec for East Asian & Pacific Affairs, State Dept Unclassified Stipulation (Charged Cables w/Links) | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun28

Joseph Yun is Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State. On June 27, 2013 the following unclassified and redacted stipulation of testimony was read into the court record. According to an unpublished transcript of the May 21, 2013 Article 39(a) session, Yun was to testify in the U.S.G.'s case for The Specification, Charge I; Spec 1, 12, and 13, Charge II, which are for Aid…

Witnesses for the USG that the Court ruled allowed closed session who have stipulations of testimony | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun28

This list contains the names of witnesses the Court ruled would be allowed to testify in a closed session. The Court also ruled that redacted unclassified versions of their testimony would be expeditiously made available to the public. Due to the recent development some of these witnesses have had their testimony entered as stipulations of testimony. If we have heard a stipulation of testimony entered into Court record I have…

Nicholas Murphy Unclassified Stipulation, 117 Charged State Dept Cables with Links | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun27

The following cables were listed in the stipulation of testimony of Mr. Nicholas Murphy, Senior Advisor for the Office of Information Program (I.P.S.), Bureau of Administration at the Department of State. Murphy conducted a classification review of 117 cables charged against Manning under the Espionage Act - 18 U.S.C. 793(e). There are 117 charged Department of State Cales or Telegrams. They are listed below. 96 cables, Murphy said, were classified…

Criminal elements and definitions for Espionage: Collateral Murder, Iraq War Logs, Afghan War Diary, GTMO Files, USACIC Memo, CIA Red Cell Memos, Farah Docs, Garani Video | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun26

Manning pled to a lesser included offense with substituted dates for seven Espionage Act offenses for 18 U.S.C. 793(e) charged under Article 134 for Collateral Murder Two CIA Red Cell Memos 37 Significant Activity Reports from the CIDNE-Afghanistan database (Afghan War Logs) 52 Significant Activity Reports from the CIDNE-Iraq database (Iraq War Diary) 5 records from a SOUTHCOM database (GTMO Files) Documents related to 2009 U.S. bombing in the Farah…

Garani air strike case bombs in Court | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun11

In March 2011, additional alleged criminal offenses including aiding the enemy were leveled at Manning. Superseding indictments with additional charges are a common prosecutorial scare tactic intended to pressure defendants to plea out, writes criminal law scholar, Professor Orin Kerr, in a post about the recent suicide of Aaron Swartz. The March 2011 charge sheet was accompanied by an amended time line. Prosecutors were alleging that the earliest date of…

Summary of the Trial Session on June 10, 2013 | US v Pfc. Manning

Jun10

I will continue to update as time and Internet connectivity is available. This post contains a summary and reflections on U.S. v. Pfc. Manning underway at Fort Meade, MD. It is June 10, 2013. Courtroom Manner Defense started out of the gate swinging-- even attempting to ask Special Agent David Shaver from Computer Crimes Investigative Unit about CENTAUR Logs-- also known as NetFlow logs collected from the Office of the…

U.S. Army says Manning docs taken down, because 400 docs are being uploaded

Jun3

In April 2013, I made a Freedom of Information Act Request for over 400 appellate exhibits missing from a reconstructed appellate exhibit list that I forensically reconstructed from transcripts I had taken, and a smattering of available defense legal filings. A few days ago journalists noticed that the 84 documents posted previously by the U.S. Army Management and Declassification Agency were no longer available. According to a email exchange I…

Overview of Garani Video, USG case against Manning for conspiracy, and the Grand Jury

Jun3

"It was like Judgment Day," said a health worker who witnessed the May 4, 2009 U.S. air strike attack by a B-1 Bomber on civilians in the Farah Province of Afghanistan to Human Rights Watch. "Words cannot describe how terrible it was. Who can bear to see so many killed, from a two-day-old baby to a 70-year-old woman?" Prosecutorial Powers and Bolstering Conspiracy In March 2011, additional alleged criminal offenses…

Overview of Charge of Wanton Publication and USG Classified Witnesses | US v Pfc. Manning

May28

The language of "wantonly cause to be published on the internet intelligence belonging to the US government, having knowledge that intelligence published on the internet is accessible to the enemy" is an unprecedented charge in military law, and not tied to an existing federal criminal violation or punitive article of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Manning's defense calls it a "made up offense." Manning pled not guilty to "Wanton…

Overview of Aiding the Enemy Charge and USG Classified Witnesses | US v Pfc. Manning

May27

*During the pretrial proceedings, court-martial and sentencing of Pfc. Manning, Chelsea requested to be identified as Bradley and addressed using the male pronoun. In a letter embargoed for August 21, 2013 Chelsea proclaimed that she is female and wished to be addressed from that moment forward as Chelsea E. Manning. Manning is charged with aiding the enemy for knowingly giving intelligence-- specified in a classified document-- to the enemy indirectly…

Three ‘Special’ Classified Witness and the Red Cell Memos

May21

Within the list of 28 witnesses for whom military prosecutors sought Court closure for classified testimony at the upcoming trial of Manning are Mr. John Doe and three 'special' witnesses whose testimony the Court ruled on May 7 would be closed 'in entirety'. Presiding military judge, Col. Denise Lind, also ordered prosecutors to provide the Court with a plan by May 20 for how they intend to expedite unclassified transcripts…

List of every sealed 2703(d) order in Eastern District of Virginia, May 2011 – April 2013

May16

The 76 page document below contains a list of every electronic communication 'ec' orders under seal for criminal cases in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia between May 2011 and April 2013. The list begins in May 2011 because public docketing of 'ec' orders was established by court order in the Twitter 2703(d) case brought by Jacob Appelbaum, Rop Gonggrijp, Birgitta Jonsdottir. When the list was…

Overview on Osama bin Laden evidence and prosecution’s move to close the Court for 28 classified witnesses.

Apr29

Prosecutors have prevented defense forensic experts from conducting a full examination of the digital media containing the "bin Laden evidence". They are also seeking to limit both discovery and cross examination, as well as to prevent defense from conducting a pretrial interview of their anonymous witness, Mr. John Doe, who was involved in the raid of bin Laden's compound and who will testify about the evidence allegedly found there. Prosecutors…

Department of Justice spokesman for Eastern District of Virginia confirms grand jury investigation ‘ongoing’

Mar26

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia at the Department of Justice confirmed today that the grand jury criminal investigation into WikiLeaks was ongoing. Peter Carr responded to my direct inquiries yesterday to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Peterson with the National Security Division and Lindsay A. Kelly of the Cyber Unit in Alexandria, Virginia regarding the status of the grand jury criminal investigation of WikiLeaks…

Overview of Manning’s anticipated plea and court’s speedy trial ruling for February 26 to March 1, 2013 sessions | US v Pfc. Manning

Feb26

The next session of United States v. Private First Class Manning runs tomorrow, Tuesday, 26 February through Friday, 1 March. At this weeks session we expect to hear: Court's ruling on the defense speedy trial motion; Court's ruling on the government's motion to preclude over-classification evidence; Court's ruling on the defense's revised, proposed plea to lesser included offenses for two Specifications, vis. 13 and 14 of Charge II, related to…

Cracking the First Amendment: USG builds conspiracy into the trial of Manning

Feb23

For over a year, in a soundproofed courtroom located in the confined wasteland of Fort Meade, the U.S. Army is prosecuting the most consequential and unprecedented leak trial of the digital age in secrecy and managed obscurity. A twenty-five year old whistleblower, Private First Class Manning is charged with indirectly aiding Al Qaeda for allegedly providing information to WikiLeaks, who published the information on the Internet. Prosecutors have recommended life…

Overview of the 18 USC 1030(a)(1) offenses | US v Pfc. Manning

Dec3

Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) at the Department of State was responsible for handling forensic analysis of the hard drives that arrived from Iraq on June 10, 2010. Despite Army Criminal Investigative Command's (CID) September 2010 preservation request for other hard drives from the T-SCIF at FOB Hammer, Iraq, and the defense's own preservation request for the same in September 2011, the Government notified the Court and defense that of the…

Investigations | US v Pfc. Manning, Secretary of the Army 15-6

Oct16

Secretary of the Army 15-6 Investigation Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, directed Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen, commander of the Army General Command and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to lead a "six-member task force" investigation into "how Pfc. Manning was selected for his job and trained" and "whether his superiors missed warning signs that he was downloading documents he had no need to read," according to a 23…

Quantico video of Pfc. Manning 18 Jan 2011 stripping and interrogation at direction of CW4 James Averhart

Oct6

Where is the video of Pfc. Manning interrogation by CW4 Averhart at Quantico? On 18 January 2011, Pfc. Manning is interrogated and stripped by guards at the direction of the Quantico Brig Commander, CW4 James Averhart. Defense states that the incident is videotaped. Pfc. Manning writes: After being returned to my cell [18 January 2010], I started to read a book. About 30 minutes later, the PCF Commander, CW4 James…

Coffey says Patrick Kennedy briefed Congress in Nov & Dec 2010, State Dept says no records, no memory, no damage

Aug23

[Update, August 23, 2012] At the June 7, 2012 Article 39(a) session of US v. Pfc. Manning, Marguerite Coffey, former State Department director of the Office of Management Policy, Right Sizing, and Innovation who also acted as the supervisor of the WikiLeaks Mitigation Team, states that, Patrick Kennedy, Undersecretary for Management at the Department of State, briefed Congress about WikiLeaks in late November, early December 2010: Defense (Coombs) Are you…

Damage assessment author primary State Department liaison to FBI & Watch List

Jul22

According to an October 6, 2009 U.S. State Department cable published by WikiLeaks, the author of the original August 2011 "draft" WikiLeaks State Department damage assessment also "coordinates counterintelligence and sensitive law enforcement operations and policy" for the Department of State and its self described "global law enforcement agency," the Diplomatic Security Service. Raymond G. McGrath, the Director of Counter-Intelligence and Consular Support in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research,…

Damage Assessments | US v Pfc. Manning, Defense Intelligence Agency Information Review Task Force

May27

Defense Intelligence Agency: Information Review Task Force On July 29, 2010, then Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, ordered the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Ronald Burgess, to stand up an Information Review Task Force, to lead a comprehensive review in concert with interagency participants of the documents allegedly given to WikiLeaks. The Information Review Task Force was a 24 hour per day operation, comprised of 80 people, largely…

2703d orders under seal for Docket No. 10GJ3793

Feb3

[UPDATE March 24, 2013] According to United States Attorney Neil MacBride and Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsay A. Kelly and Andrew Peterson: "On May 4, 2011 (the "May 4 Order"), the magistrate judge granted (at least in part) the Subscribers' request for public docketing when she ordered documents related to the Twitter Order assigned to the newly created "ec" docket, case number 1:11-ec-3. JA 167. The magistrate judge directed that…

US Command ‘Clinton, Gates too expensive to produce’ for Manning court-martial

Jan19

Manning's defense lawyer, David Coombs reports that Colonel Carl R. Coffman Jr., the Commander of Joint Base Myer and the Special Court Martial Convening Authority, denied the defense's request to conduct oral depositions of nine essential witnesses including former Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, and current Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Coffman determined that the "difficulty, expense, and/or effect on military operations outweighed the significance of the expected testimony," despite…

Oltman in secret highlevel Quantico meeting re Manning’s illegal pretrial confinement

Dec26

This month new and incriminating details have come to light about a secret meeting of high-level Quantico officials that took place on January 13, 2011, resulting in Manning's illegal punitive pretrial confinement. On March 2, 2011, Pfc. Manning, then confined under Maximum custody and Prevention of Injury Watch (POI) at Quantico, where he had been since July 29, 2010, was told that his Article 138 request to be placed under…

Witness | US v Pfc. Manning, The poetry of Master Sgt. Adkins, NCOIC in Manning’s TSCIF, invoked Art. 31 at Pre Trial

Dec17

Ucityreview.com says "Paul David Adkins grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He attended Mercer and Washington University. He lives in New York." Borderlinepoetry.com says, "Paul David Adkins grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He entered the Army in 1991 and has served in Iraq three times and Afghanistan once since 2002. He has poems published or pending in Crab Creek Review, Rattle, Artful Dodge and Chattahoochee Review, among others." The…

USA v. In re a Search Warrant Issued to Google, Inc. on August 24, 2011

Aug24

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia - (Alexandria) CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:11-sw-00454-TRJ-1 Assigned to: Magistrate Judge Thomas Rawles Jones Jr Date Filed: 02/28/2012 Defendant (1) In re a Search Warrant Issued to Google, Inc. on August 24, 2011 Pending Counts Disposition None Highest Offense Level (Opening) None Terminated Counts Disposition None Highest Offense Level (Terminated) None Complaints Disposition None Interested Party Google, Inc. represented byJohn Kuropatkin Roche Perkins…

Grand Jury | Witness Profile, David House, June 15, 2011

Jun15

David House Grand Jury Subpoena Letter "We advise you that the Grand Jury is conducting an investigation of possible violations of federal criminal law involving, but not necessarily limited to conspiracy to communicate or transmit national defense information in violation of 18 U.S.C. 793(g) and conspiracy to violate the laws of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371 to wit; knowingly accessing a computer without authorization or exceeding…

USA v. In re a 18 U.S.C. 2703(d) Order issued to Google, Inc. on June 10, 2011

Jun11

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia - (Alexandria) CRIMINAL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:11-ec-00056-TRJ-1 Assigned to: Magistrate Judge Thomas Rawles Jones Jr. Defendant (1) In re a 18 U.S.C. 2703(d) Order issued to Google, Inc. on June 10, 2011 Pending Counts Disposition None Highest Offense Level (Opening) None Terminated Counts Disposition None Highest Offense Level (Terminated) None Complaints Disposition None Interested Party Google, Inc. represented byJohn Kuropatkin Roche Perkins Coie…

Grand Jury | Subpoena 11-3 /10GJ3793/ 11-1685, Letter Re 11-3/ 10GJ3793, David House (McCormick)

May25

Letter Re: 11-3/ 10GJ3793 Date of Letter May 25, 2011 Signed by: Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) (X) Niel MacBride, U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia Subpoena 11-3 /10GJ3793 / 11 - 1685 Date of Subpoena May 25, 2011 Grand Jury Appearance June 15, 2011 Requested by: Tracy McCormick, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) Signed by:…

Grand Jury | Subpoena 11-3/ 10GJ3793/ 11-1233, Letter Re 11-3/ 10GJ3793 / 11-937, Unnamed Cambridge Resident, May 11, 2011 (Peterson)

Apr11

Letter Re: 11-3/ 10GJ3793/ 11-937 Date of Letter April 21, 2011 Signed by: Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) (X) Andrew Peterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, National Security and Terrorism Division Niel MacBride, U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia Subpoena 11-3/ 10GJ3793/ 11-1233 Date of Subpoena April 11, 2011 Grand Jury Appearance May 11, 2011 Requested by: Andrew Peterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, National Security…

Pfc. Manning placed on “suicide risk” as punishment for January 17 Quantico protest, letter says

Mar10

*During the pretrial proceedings, court-martial and sentencing of Pfc. Manning, Chelsea requested to be identified as Bradley and addressed using the male pronoun. In a letter embargoed for August 22, 2013 Chelsea proclaimed that she is female and wished to be addressed from that moment forward as Chelsea E. Manning. In an 11 page legal rebuttal released on his* lawyer's Web site, Bradley Manning describes his experience under "maximum custody"…

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Alexa O'Brien conducts research and analysis about national security and law enforcement. Her work has been published in The New York Times, VICE News, The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Guardian (UK), The Daily Beast, NY Daily News, and featured on the BBC, PBS, NPR, Democracy Now!, and Public Radio International. She was shortlisted for the 2013 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism in the United Kingdom and listed in The Verge 50. She is currently an analyst, author, and project lead at Airwars, a London based organization that monitors and assesses civilian harm from airpower-dominated international military actions. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, majoring in Political Science. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Applied Intelligence at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She resides in New York City.

Contact: email at alexaobrien dot com