Obama defends decision to commute Chelsea Manning’s sentence
ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Barack Obama speaks during his final presidential news conference.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. Army, Pfc. Chelsea Manning poses for a photo wearing a wig and lipstick.
WASHINGTON >> President Barack Obama firmly defended his decision to cut nearly three decades off convicted leaker Chelsea Manning’s prison term Wednesday, arguing in his final White House news conference that the former Army intelligence analyst had served a “tough prison sentence” already.
Taking questions on many topics two days before his presidency ends, Obama also warned that the “moment may be passing” for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, pushing back on criticism over his recent move to put pressure on the Jewish state over settlement-building. Turning his attention to President-elect Donald Trump, Obama said he reserves the right to speak out as ex-president if Trump violates America’s “core values.”
Obama said he granted clemency to Manning because she had gone to trial, taken responsibility for her crime and received a sentence that was harsher than other leakers had received. He emphasized that he had merely commuted her sentence, not granted a pardon, which would have symbolically forgiven her for the crime.
“I feel very comfortable that justice has been served,” Obama said.
Manning was convicted in 2013 of violating the Espionage Act and other crimes for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad. Formerly known as Bradley Manning, she declared as transgender after being sentenced to 35 years in prison. She had served more than six years before Obama commuted her sentence on Tuesday, with a release date set for May.
“The notion that the average person who was thinking about disclosing vital, classified information would think that it goes unpunished, I don’t think would get that impression from the sentence that Chelsea Manning has served,” Obama said.
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Obama’s defense of controversial decisions came as he prepares to exit the presidency after eight years marked by major victories on health care, the economy and climate change, along with disappointments over his inability to achieve his goals on immigration, gun control and closing the Guantanamo Bay prison. He also wound down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but wrestled with other security threats posed by the Islamic State group and the Syria civil war he was unable to resolve.
Even many of Obama’s proudest achievements, like the “Obamacare” health care overhaul, stand to be rolled back or undermined by President-elect Donald Trump, a shadow that hangs over Obama’s legacy as he leaves office. The formal end comes Friday when Obama and Trump will motorcade together to the Capitol for Trump’s swearing-in before Obama, then an ex-president, flies with his family to California for a vacation.
Reflecting on his legacy as the first black president, Obama disputed the notion that race relations had worsened. And he dismissed as “fake news” the idea that there is widespread voter fraud in the U.S., a notion that Democrats say is used to justify restrictions that make it harder for African-Americans to vote.
Appearing one last time in front of the White House seal, Obama said he was “significantly worried” that the growth of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories would “increasingly make a two-state solution impossible.” He stood behind his decision to allow a U.N. Security Council resolution to pass criticizing Israel over the settlements, though he conceded Trump might pursue a different approach.
“If you do not have two states, then in some form or fashion you are extending an occupation,” Obama said.
He defended his administration’s rapprochement with Cuba and his eleventh-hour move to end the “wet foot, dry foot” policy that lets any Cuban who makes it to U.S. soil stay and become a legal resident. Ending the visa-free path was the latest development in a warming of relations that has included the easing of the U.S. economic embargo and the restoration of commercial flights between the U.S. and the small island nation.
“That was a carry-over of an old way of thinking that didn’t make sense in this day and age, particularly as we’re opening up travel between the two countries,” Obama said of the “wet foot, dry foot” policy.
After leaving office, Obama plans to write a book, raise money to develop his presidential library, and work on a Democratic initiative to prepare for the 2020 round of congressional redistricting. Yet he said he plans to assume a low profile in the months after he leaves office, and to avoid commenting on politics on a daily basis.
“I want to be quiet a little bit, and not hear myself talk so darn much,” Obama said.
Yet he carved out room for potential exceptions. Obama was insistent that he wouldn’t stay silent of Trump tried to deport children brought to the U.S. illegally, a group Obama has sought to protect though executive action.
“That would merit me speaking out,” Obama said.
Although Obama had long intended to take one last round of questions before leaving office, White House officials said that in recent days, Obama became intent on using the occasion to draw a symbolic contrast with Trump on issues of accountability and press freedoms. Trump’s team has said it’s considering changes to the traditional daily press briefing and to the location of news conferences, stoking concerns among journalists that their ability to cover the presidency may be scaled back.
Obama alluded to those concerns in his opening remarks, noting the role the press plays in American democracy.
“It doesn’t work if we don’t have a well-informed citizenry, and you are the conduit,” Obama said.
26 responses to “Obama defends decision to commute Chelsea Manning’s sentence”
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He should also pardon Edward Snowden.
You can’t pardon someone who has not yet been convicted of a crime in this country. Duh. (Snowden has only been charged but not brought to trial because he bailed)..
Well, to be precise, indeed, a U.S. president can issue a pardon without there having been a conviction of a crime. Think of President Gerald R. Ford’s pardoning of former president Richard M. Nixon for any crimes he MAY have committed. Admittedly, this was likely the most egregious example in modern history.
Duh!
There is no defense. He screwed up again.
I agree with President Obama that the two-state solution is in the best interest of Israel and the entire mid-east. Otherwise, there will be constant warfare dragging the USA into the expensive mire.
IRT Allie, and I disagree with your position. I strongly believe in a One State solution. Two state solutions have never worked and ended up in an expanded War.
Do you agree with Obama to pardon a traitor?
Wen is the next final White House news conference?
never fear allie will be there.
Hope he doesn’t pardon Snowden or Berdahl
Manning legitimized Wikileaks. Wikileaks legitimized Trump. Manning birthed Trump.
I disagree. Wikileaks exposed the lies and corruption in the Clinton campaign. President-elect Trump was always legitimate. Please support your comment that President-elect Trump was not legitimate.
Bradley Manning or Chelsea Manning?
“I want to be quiet a little bit, and not hear myself talk so darn much,” Obama said.
Many, many people would agree with you.
@ Tita Girl
I second!
#MAGA
The commutation of Manning’s sentence was done to divert attention from Obama’s commutation of the prison sentence of Puerto Rican terrorist, Oscar Lopez Rivera, a member of
the Marxist Puerto Rican terrorist group of the 1970’s and mid 1980’s known as Fuerzas Armadas de Liberation Nacional (FALN) who carried out 130 bombings in the US killing 6 people and injuring dozens.
Rivera had been offered a commutation of his prison sentence previously by President Bill Clinton but the offer was declined by Rivera as he refused to comply with the precondition that
he renounce terrorism.
It has been widely reported Obama’s close friend Bill Ayers, himself a communist terrorist and former member of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and bomb maker for the Weather Underground which had morphed from the SDS was celebrating Rivera’s commutation. Ayers is married to Bernadine Dohrn, a founding member of the Weather Underground
and both are unapologetic about their past terrorist past.
The drive by media as predictable has done no reporting on Rivera’s commutation by Obama so the diversion appears to have been very successful.
Everyone has been focused on Manning when the real story should have been about Rivera who remains an unrepentant terrorist.
You are correct; it plainly reveals Obama’s Marxist/Communist allegiance.
just a prelude to obama issuing a pardon to clinton effective jan.20,2017, 12:29 p.m.
President Obama issuing a pardon to Ms. Clinton would be official recognition of her guilt and thoughtless decisions.
H e could pardon Donald Trump as Ford did Nixon. Then we could move on!
President Obama lacks the class and manners to quietly depart and let the newly elected leaders work to make improvements without his two cents. Just needs to learn how to graciously leave the scene.
Bad decision. Same as I feel about most of them over the last 8 years. At least he’s consistent. If he pardons Bergdahl that would be worse in my opinion.
Klastri and Allie defends Obama’s decision to commute the sentence of a traitor? What does that make klastri and Allie?
The Manchurian President. Obama was brainwashed. Some if not all his and Hilliary’s supporters are too. Night of the living dead. Drain the Swamp.
Less than 24 hours before some real leadership takes charge. Thank God.