Bradley Manning’s suicide attempt leads to new charges as ACLU calls for transgender treatment
Manning was rushed to the hospital on July 5, following a suicide attempt. The following week, Manning confirmed through an attorney statement that she had attempted to end her own life.
“I am okay. I’m glad to be alive. Thank you all for your love. I will get through this,”Manning tweeted July 11.
I am okay. I’m glad to be alive. Thank you all for your love <3 I will get through this. #standwithchelsea
— Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) July 12, 2016
Identifying as a transgender, Manning wants to be moved away from the all-male population, claiming that this confinement has a negative effect on Manning’s mental health, battling depression, according to the ACLU.
“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,” said ACLU Staff Attorney Chase Strangio. “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.”
Besides the new charges, the ACLU says the Army is continuing to deny the inmate access to “basic health care,” and provided only “inadequate” medical treatment after her suicide attempt.
Manning was sentenced to 35 years in 2013 after being found guilty of 20 charges by court-martial, including six under the Espionage Act of 1917 for “whistleblowing on war crimes” committed by the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan – all of which involved revealing US secrets and endangering other soldiers.