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Chelsea Manning Resists Trump Regime Attempt to Incriminate Her

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Chelsea Manning Resists Trump Regime Attempt to Incriminate Her

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

That’s what subpoenaing her to give grand jury testimony and what could follow is all about - a fishing expedition to find pretexts to indict, in Manning’s case for political reasons.

During proceedings, witnesses are questioned by prosecuting attorneys and grand jurors, no judge or legal representation present. 

Conducted to determine if a crime was committed, proceedings are secret, a majority of jurors required for an indictment to be issued.

Prosecutors try to establish probable cause to indict. They manipulate grand juries and witnesses, gaming the system to get judgments they seek, justice denied time and again. Proceedings often amount to a sword for injustice, not a shield against it.

Innocent witnesses can be indicted if prosecutors claim they gave false or misleading testimonies. Not told of the risk in advance, they’re vulnerable if prosecutorial intent is all about wanting them imprisoned.

As the saying goes, anything said under oath can be twisted and used to bring charges - why Manning refused to testify Thursday before the US Eastern District of Virginia court.

The Chelsea Resists website established on her behalf said she “continues to challenge the grand jury subpoena.” Her denied motion to quash it remains “under seal” - part of the highly disturbing secretive process, what no just societies would tolerate.

The latest full statement on her behalf said the following:

“On Wednesday March 6, 2019 Chelsea Manning appeared before a Federal Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA) and refused to answer questions from prosecutors regarding the release of information she disclosed to the public in 2010.”  

“Chelsea invoked her 1st, 4th, and 6th Amendment protections to provide just cause for her refusal.”  

“On Friday March 8, 2019 (she’ll) return to the court for a hearing wherein Judge Hilton will consider the legal grounds for her refusal.”

Below is her statement, explaining why she refused to give testimony, saying:  

“On Friday, I will return to federal court in Alexandria, Virginia for a closed contempt hearing. A judge will consider the legal grounds for my refusal to answer questions in front of a grand jury. The court may find me in contempt, and order me to jail.”

“Yesterday, I appeared before a secret grand jury after being given immunity for my testimony. All of the substantive questions pertained to my disclosures of information to the public in 2010—answers I provided in extensive testimony, during my court-martial in 2013.” 

“I responded to each question with the following statement: ‘I object to the question and refuse to answer on the grounds that the question is in violation of my First, Fourth, and Sixth Amendment, and other statutory rights.’ ”

“In solidarity with many activists facing the odds, I will stand by my principles. I will exhaust every legal remedy available. My legal team continues to challenge the secrecy of these proceedings, and I am prepared to face the consequences of my refusal.”

Manning is a courageous whistleblower. At great personal risk to her welfare and safety, she exposed US high crimes of war and humanity in Afghanistan and Iraq - tortured and imprisoned for nearly seven years for doing the right thing, guilty only of the “crime” of truth-telling.

The Trump regime appears aiming to get her politicized 35-year sentence commuted by Obama shortly before leaving office reversed.

DLT and fascist hardliners surrounding him likely want her back behind bars longterm. She, her legal team, and supporters intend resisting their diabolical scheme to the full letter of what the law allows - along with the power of public sentiment on her behalf.

The US has a disturbing tradition of honoring its worst and punishing its best - how all fascist police states operate. 

The rights, safety and well-being of Manning and other heroic figures are greatly endangered.

That’s what the scourge of US rage against activists for peace, equity and justice is all about.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at [email protected].

 

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

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