Chelsea Manning May Face Solitary Confinement for Suicide Attempt: ACLU

Chelsea Manning, the whistleblower who is incarcerated for leaking classified government documents to WikiLeaks, may face additional charges for her suicide attempt in July, the American Civil Liberties Union announced Thursday.

Manning's lawyers released a statement on her behalf in July, confirming that she had attempted to take her own life. "Her attempt to take her own life was unsuccessful," the statement said. At the time, she remained under close observation by the prison and said she expected to remain in that status "for the next several weeks."

"For us, hearing Chelsea’s voice after learning that she had attempted to take her life last week was incredibly emotional. She is someone who has fought so hard for so many issues we care about and we are honored to fight for her freedom and medical care," the statement from her lawyers said.

In a press release, the ACLU said Manning received a document from Army officials on Thursday informing her that she is being investigated for serious new charges related to her July 5 attempt to take her own life. The Army verbally informed Manning that the charges were related to her suicide attempt, according to the ACLU.

If convicted, Manning could be placed in solitary confinement for the remainder of her sentence.

“It is deeply troubling that Chelsea is now being subjected to an investigation and possible punishment for her attempt to take her life," ACLU Staff Attorney Chase Strangio said in the statement. "The government has long been aware of Chelsea's distress associated with the denial of medical care related to her gender transition and yet delayed and denied the treatment recognized as necessary. Now, while Chelsea is suffering the darkest depression she has experienced since her arrest, the government is taking actions to punish her for that pain. It is unconscionable and we hope that the investigation is immediately ended and that she is given the health care that she needs to recover.”

Manning, a transgender woman, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for leaking government documents to WikiLeaks.

"The sentence is the longest ever handed down in a case involving a leak of United States government information for the purpose of having the information reported to the public," the New York Times noted at the time of the sentencing.

Some of the most damaging documents leaked by Manning included a video that showed a U.S. Army helicopter firing on people in Iraq, that included journalists from Reuters. The leaks also included a series of war logs and state department cables that led to strained diplomatic relations around the globe.

Manning's treatment in the Fort Leavenworth prison has been widely criticized. After being arrested in 2010, Manning publicly spoke out about his treatment for the first time in 2011 through a letter released by her lawyer.

"I was stripped of all clothing with the exception of my underwear. My prescription eyeglasses were taken away from me and I was forced to sit in essential blindness," an excerpt from the 2011 letter said.

The Army approved hormone treatment for Manning in 2015. She decided to transition from man to woman a day after her sentencing.

Wayne Hall, a media relations officer for the army, said in an email to Patch he is looking into the matter and will issue a statement once he has more information.

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