Court Case against Soldier Accused of WikiLeaks Connection Moves Forward
The Judge presiding over the Military Trial of a U.S. soldier accused of being a WikiLeaks source has decided that the defendant was brought to trial in good time, ruling against the defense’s claim that his right to a speedy trial had been violated. As reported by USA Today, the soldier had been awaiting trial while in military custody for more than 1,000 days, an anniversary that brought hundreds of protesters to hold events across the world.
The accused Army private admitted to having sent state documents to the website WikiLeaks, which had originally caused him to be put in pre-trial confinement on May 28, 2010 when he was arrested at an Iraq Army base outside of Baghdad. While trials are supposed to begin within 120 days of detainment, there are various excusable delays that can extend the time period, which the judge declared had been met in the lengthy delay of the trial.
According to Reuters.com, the accused solider pled guilty to a series of 10 lesser charges involving the misuse of classified information for which he faces a maximum imprisonment of 20 years. He entered the pleas before his Court Martial which is set for June 3, 2013.
WikiLeaks is an online organization created in 2006 that is focused on publishing news leaks, secret information, and classified media given by anonymous sources. Commonly, this information is from government organizations across the world. In the last several years, members of the organization, including its founder Julian Assange, have been prosecuted by various governments, including the United States, for publishing sensitive documents seen to compromise security.
Facing any form of charges in Military Court can result in long-term sentences and serious punishments for members of the armed forces. Anyone accused of crimes needs experienced and tenacious legal representation to preserve their rights and fight for a fair trial. At The Law Offices of Joseph H. Low IV, a San Diego military defense lawyer can give you the guidance and representation to both need and deserve for your devotion to the well being of the country. To learn more about our years of experience and success, contact us at (888) 454-5569.