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President Obama's 11th-hour decision to cut short former Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning's prison sentence is drawing backlash from a growing number of Senate Democrats.
The White House announced this week that the president had commuted the prison sentence. Manning, who was sentenced to 35 years in 2013 for leaking classified information about U.S. national security activities to WikiLeaks, will now be released in May.
A small, but growing, number of Senate Democrats are distancing themselves from the decision, which they warn could have negative consequences for national security.
Sen. Mark Warner
Mark Robert WarnerFormer Senate intel aide indicted for perjury makes first court appearance The Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by PhRMA — Washington's week of 'we'll see' Former Senate Intel aide indicted in DOJ leak case MORE (D-Va.), the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the decision sends the "wrong signal."
Mark Robert WarnerFormer Senate intel aide indicted for perjury makes first court appearance The Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by PhRMA — Washington's week of 'we'll see' Former Senate Intel aide indicted in DOJ leak case MORE (D-Va.), the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said the decision sends the "wrong signal." "[It's] something I wouldn't have done," he told Fox News.
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Joseph (Joe) ManchinThe Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by PhRMA — Some GOP lawmakers reject script on Trump Trump Jr. criticizes Manchin for floating Trump 2020 endorsement: 'No one is buying it' Manchin: I'm open to supporting Trump in 2020 MORE (D-W.Va) separately called the president's decision "dead wrong.""I think he's dead wrong. Absolutely dead wrong," he told "Meet the Press Daily." "This is treason, espionage at the highest level."
Republicans, including Vice President-elect Mike Pence
Michael (Mike) Richard PenceThe Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by PhRMA — Some GOP lawmakers reject script on Trump State Dept recognizes LGBTI Month while White House doesn’t Top North Korean official visits Trump at White House MORE, have blasted Obama, accusing the outgoing president of helping release a "traitor."
Michael (Mike) Richard PenceThe Hill's Morning Report — Sponsored by PhRMA — Some GOP lawmakers reject script on Trump State Dept recognizes LGBTI Month while White House doesn’t Top North Korean official visits Trump at White House MORE, have blasted Obama, accusing the outgoing president of helping release a "traitor."But the White House defended the president's decision, with press secretary Josh Earnest saying Republicans are showing "intellectual dishonesty" if they criticize Obama while supporting President-elect Donald Trump
Donald John TrumpTrump tweets condolences after US soldier killed in Somalia Trump floats scrapping all tariffs, barriers at G-7 summit: report Dem rips Trump's call to include Russia in G7: What does Putin have on him? MORE, whose presidential campaign benefited from WikiLeaks' publication of hacked emails from Democratic organizations and individuals.
Donald John TrumpTrump tweets condolences after US soldier killed in Somalia Trump floats scrapping all tariffs, barriers at G-7 summit: report Dem rips Trump's call to include Russia in G7: What does Putin have on him? MORE, whose presidential campaign benefited from WikiLeaks' publication of hacked emails from Democratic organizations and individuals.Obama separately said Wednesday that "justice was served" by the commutation.
"It has been my view ... that the sentence that she received was very disproportionate relative to what other leakers had received and that she had served a significant amount of time," Obama said during a press conference.
Sen. Ron Wyden
Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenOvernight Finance: Trump wants Russia back in G-7 | Senators, allies push back | House approves first fiscal 2019 spending bills | Dems want insider trading probe over job tweet Legislation legalizing hemp included in Senate farm bill Dem senator won't return 'blue slip' for two Trump court picks MORE (D-Ore.) appeared to echo Obama's concerns, telling reporters he was concerned a "double standard" was being set for whistleblowers.
Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenOvernight Finance: Trump wants Russia back in G-7 | Senators, allies push back | House approves first fiscal 2019 spending bills | Dems want insider trading probe over job tweet Legislation legalizing hemp included in Senate farm bill Dem senator won't return 'blue slip' for two Trump court picks MORE (D-Ore.) appeared to echo Obama's concerns, telling reporters he was concerned a "double standard" was being set for whistleblowers. "Certainly when you served seven years in prison and you've apologized, you indicate what ... you did was wrong," he said.
Wyden contrasted Manning's sentence to former CIA Director David Petraeus, who received two years of probation and a fine after he pleasded guilty to removing and mishandling classified information, which he shared with his biographer Paula Brodwell, with whom he was having an affair.
Manning's 35-year sentence marked the longest ever handed down for a leaking conviction.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Emiel FeinsteinSenate Dems introduce bill to prevent separation of families at border Feinstein, a powerhouse in California — Menendez, no such thing in New Jersey Hillicon Valley: Deal reached on ZTE, but lawmakers look to block it | New encryption bill | Dems push Ryan for net neutrality vote | Google vows it won't use AI for weapons MORE (D-Calif.), the former ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, also defended the president's decision, while stressing that "nobody should ever believe" that Manning's actions weren't "serious."
Dianne Emiel FeinsteinSenate Dems introduce bill to prevent separation of families at border Feinstein, a powerhouse in California — Menendez, no such thing in New Jersey Hillicon Valley: Deal reached on ZTE, but lawmakers look to block it | New encryption bill | Dems push Ryan for net neutrality vote | Google vows it won't use AI for weapons MORE (D-Calif.), the former ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, also defended the president's decision, while stressing that "nobody should ever believe" that Manning's actions weren't "serious." "Seven years is a long time and she did serve that time," she told reporters.
