Army Pfc. Bradley Manning's court-martial case of the largest leak of classified information the United States government has ever seen begins, three years after his arrest, on Monday at Fort Meade.
According to The Baltimore Sun, "Manning admitted to leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents, including diplomatic cables, Iraq and Afghanistan war logs and gunsight video footage of a 2007 U.S. helicopter attack that killed civilians in Baghdad, to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks."
The 25-year-old soldier served as an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Manning studied at Montgomery College before he enlisted in the Army in 2007.
Manning faces charges including violating the Espionage Act and aiding the enemy. If convicted, the soldier could be sentenced to life in prison.
"The Military District of Washington, which is convening the court-martial, received more than 350 requests from news organizations for credentials to cover the proceedings. The district has made 10 seats in the courtroom and 70 seats in a nearby media center available to reporters," The Sun reported.
Multiple reports state government officials said Manning's information heist compromised U.S. diplomacy and put lives at risk. Manning's attorneys argue the release of information did not endanger anyone.
According to The Sun, "damage assessments the government performed after the leak remain classified, and prosecutors have argued to keep them out of the court-martial."
The leaks provided information to the public about a helicopter attack that allegedly shows evidence of a war crime. In footage of the attack found on WikiLeaks, an American helicopter crew can be heard laughing, referring to Iraqis as "dead bastards."
The attack in Baghdad killed 12 people, including a Reuters journalist and his driver.
Manning was arrested in Baghdad in May 2010 and was brought to the United States, where he has been held since the arrest. Reports say he pleaded guilty in February to several lesser charges related to leaking the information.
Since his arrest, Manning has become a hero to some anti-war activists and supporters believe he should be protected as a "whistleblower." Demonstrators marched on Saturday Fort Meade chanting "Free Bradley Manning" to show their support.
