01.17.17

Sullivan Comments on Private Manning’s Commutation by President Obama

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) issued the following statement today regarding President Obama’s decision to commute the sentence of Private Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for stealing U.S. government secrets and providing them to Wikileaks:

“In recent weeks, we’ve seen stern condemnations and tough talk from President Obama regarding cyber-attacks against America and our intelligence community. Those words ring hollow today as President Obama commutes the sentence of Private Manning, who, as a member of the U.S. military, was found responsible for leaking hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. diplomatic cables and U.S. Army reports.

“This massive leak endangered the lives of our men and women in uniform, other Americans – some under cover – as well as the lives of allies all across the globe. This outrageous commutation, which releases Private Manning in just a few months, is a slap in the face to our service members who do the right thing day in and day out, serving our country with honor. Some are calling Private Manning a hero. I know real heroes – some of whom, unlike Private Manning, did not return from Iraq and Afghanistan.”

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