Obama Finally Did Something Good: Chelsea Manning to Go Free (But Will Wikileaks’ Assange Go to Prison?)

Former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning is set to go free after nearly six years behind bars.

VICTORY: Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence from 35 years to 7. Release date now May 17. Background: https://t.co/HndsbVbRer

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 17, 2017

In a rush to offer clemency at the very end of his last term, Obama commuted the rest of Manning’s 35-year prison sentence for leaking classified military info to Wikileaks.

The clemency comes after a rush of support barraging the White House begging to free Manning, including an open letter from Human Rights Watch, a petition with over 100,000 signatures, and a viral social media campaign under the hashtag #HugsforChelsea.

#HugsForChelsea pic.twitter.com/EqHEZcBRuk

— Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) January 16, 2017

#HugsForChelsea from @justinsanesolo & @ChrisDos of @anti_flag at their show in Boston. Join the movement at https://t.co/grn6KegJzC pic.twitter.com/MO2WwjMsr3

— Free Chelsea Manning (@evan_greer) January 16, 2017

REM lead singer Michael Stipe joins #HugsForChelsea campaign to encourage Obama to do the right thing and grant Chelsea Manning clemency. pic.twitter.com/kjXq6yG7ql

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 16, 2017

So much love, so much warmth. >=D https://t.co/ehSDR4n469 #HugsForChelsea

— Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) January 16, 2017

The clemency also comes after NBC News reported that four former and current Army intelligence officers stated the documents Manning leaked paled in comparison to Edward Snowden’s leaks, calling Manning’s sentence “excessive”. Manning’s aunt also told the outlet she felt Manning was a scapegoat for Snowden, punishing one too harshly because they could not get the other one.

All things considered, it’s most likely the president did it for his legacy, considering millions around the world pressured him to and after the Hillary fiasco, he would’ve looked like a monster if he didn’t.

He also let 64 other people out, mostly for non-violent drug offenses. If he really wanted to secure a legacy, Obama would let all the people out of prison who are in there for non-violent marijuana-related “crimes,” considering the plant is now completely legal even for recreational use in eight states across the nation…

But I digress.

Wikileaks’ founder Julian Assange had previously agreed to extradition if Obama were to grant Manning clemency.

If Obama grants Manning clemency, Assange will agree to US prison in exchange — despite its clear unlawfulness https://t.co/MZU30S3Eia

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) September 15, 2016

No word from Wikileaks other than the Tweet above acknowledging Manning’s victory. It is unclear what will happen next on that front.

Related Reads

Julian Assange Just Agreed to Go to Prison if Obama Pardons Chelsea Manning

Chelsea Manning Rushed to ER After ‘Trying to Hang Herself Inside a Cell at Maximum Security Prison’

Bradley Manning Gets 35 Years, Dishonorable Discharge

You’ve been lied to all the time: Chelsea Manning issues dire warning about Iraq

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Contributed by Melissa Dykes of The Daily Sheeple.

Melissa Dykes is a writer, researcher, and analyst for The Daily Sheeple and a co-creator of Truthstream Media with Aaron Dykes, a site that offers teleprompter-free, unscripted analysis of The Matrix we find ourselves living in. Melissa and Aaron also recently launched Revolution of the Method and Informed Dissent. Wake the flock up!