Chelsea Manning Is Out of Prison

Soldier served 7 years for leaking US secrets
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted May 17, 2017 7:06 AM CDT
Chelsea Manning Is Out of Prison
This undated file photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Pfc. Chelsea Manning.   (U.S. Army via AP, File)

Chelsea Manning is no longer a federal prisoner. The 29-year-old was released from Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas early Wednesday, report NBC News and the BBC. Manning, whose 35-year sentence for leaking classified documents was commuted by former President Obama, is expected to move back to Maryland. "She's ready to finally be able to live as the woman that she is," says attorney Nancy Hollander of her transgender client.

Earlier, USA Today reported that Manning would remain an active-duty, though unpaid, US soldier and thus be eligible for health benefits. Backers have so far raised more than $150,000 for her on GoFundMe. (Even her legal team was surprised that the plea for commutation worked.)

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