A self-portrait snapshot Bradley Manning took, and emailed to his supervisor in the Army in April, 2010, prior to leaking government documents to Wikileaks.
We’ve been following the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning here at Boing Boing, and I have visited the trial periodically to live-blog the proceedings in person. Today is expected to be a significant day at Fort Meade: the 25-year-old former Army intel analyst is expected to make a statement to the court, as Judge Col. Denise Lind weighs the sentence he will receive. Kevin Gosztola, Nathan Fuller, and Alexa O’Brien are among the few reporters/bloggers who have been there daily, for months. Alexa says:
Bradley #Manning can make a sworn or unsworn statement today. If sworn, he can be cross examined by USG. If unsworn, he cannot.
— Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) August 14, 2013
Kevin is liveblogging here, at Firedoglake. I’ve gathered some of their tweets from the Fort Meade media operations center below, summarizing witnesses’ statements and the vibe around the press center (in a word, tense). Look for today’s transcripts at the Freedom of the Press Foundation website later today (the court isn’t releasing official transcripts, but we’ve sent stenographers, crowd-funded and permitted by the judge with your help). Here are yesterday’s transcripts: morning, afternoon.
One of the big reveals over the last few days of the trial: “My Problem” [PDF] an email Manning sent on Saturday, April 24, 2010 to his then-supervisor, former Master Sgt. Paul Adkins. The message amounted to a confession that Manning was transgender, and felt unable to transition within the military environment in Iraq.
The email [PDF] begins:
This is my problem. I’ve had signs of it for a very long time. It’s caused problems within my family. I thought a career in the military would get rid of it. It’s not something I seek out for attention, and I’ve been trying very, very hard to get rid of it by placing myself in situations where it would be impossible. But, it’s not going away; it’s haunting me more and more as I get older. Now, the consequences of it are dire, at a time when it’s causing me great pain it itself.
Attached to the email is the self-portrait shown above, of Manning presenting as a woman, in a wig and make-up.
Tweets from the trial today, below.
When you come to terms with the need to reveal long-held internal secrets, hiding much bigger secrets may suddenly feel intolerable.
— Xeni Jardin (@xeni) August 14, 2013
Navy Cpt. Davi Moulton, expert forensic psychologist detailed to case to review #Manning, took stand as defense witness
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
We just heard from foresnic psychiatrist David Moulton, who described #Manning as in the grip of a "post-adolescent idealistic phase"
— Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) August 14, 2013
Defense forensic psych expert blames Manning's whistle-blowing motives on "post-adolescent idealistic phase," a phrase unrecognized by APA
— Adam Klasfeld (@onearmedmaninc) August 14, 2013
Cpt. Moulton place gender identity disorder as primary disorder #Manning was dealing with. Abnormal personality traits secondary
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Dr. Moulton: the thing about Bradley #Manning that stood out the most was that he was consistent, through all statements and interviews.
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) August 14, 2013
Moulton treated #Manning's youthful idealism as a clinical condition: "drives a lot of activism on campus colleges, even the riots"
— Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) August 14, 2013
The government says #Manning's a narcissist, the defense says he has narcissistic personality traits
— Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) August 14, 2013
Moulton is testifying for the defense – but his testimony was out of line w/view of #Manning as pure whistleblower
— Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) August 14, 2013
Sanity board diagnosed Bradley Manning with gender identity disorder
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
There is a British journalist here who has set up his own folding picnic table with a full spread. #Manning
— Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) August 14, 2013
Govt officials (& some media) think all leakers are narcissists. May partly explain why line of questioning was pursued. #Manning
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Dr. Michael Worsley who treated #Manning Dec 2009 to May 2010 in Iraq on stand. Defense just finished examination.
— Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) August 14, 2013
"If you share any secret, it’s shared. You shine light and it’s done. It’s out there," Worsley, his doctor, said on gender issues #Manning
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Worsley: "Based on how UCMJ is, there would never be a time that he would be able to be openly female" & seek treatment #Manning
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Memos documenting Manning's mental deterioration: Dec 09 http://t.co/tQXfanG1vz April '10 http://t.co/d6z3QQIUZb May http://t.co/bznlhujAO3
— Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) August 14, 2013
USG: does #Manning calling soldiers "ignorant rednecks" indicate narcissism? Worsley: can't say I haven't called fellow Marines rednecks…
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) August 14, 2013
USG tried to get Worsley to confirm that #Manning was a "narcissist" but he wouldn't
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) August 14, 2013
After #Manning punched Spc. Jihrleah Showman, he had 1:30a session with Worsley where he opened up about gender identity issues
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Capt. Worsley, #Manning's psychologist in Iraq, testified about Manning opening up about gender-identity issues and related difficulties
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) August 14, 2013
May 8, 2010: Worsley diagnosed Bradley Manning with gender identity disorder.
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Worsley conducted sessions where he diagnosed Bradley Manning as still having anxiety disorder and a personality disorder
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Worsley: #Manning was in "openly hostile" environment just being gay in the Army, gender-identity issue would've made "extremely difficult"
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) August 14, 2013
Worsley: Military & having gender identity issues "doesn't go hand-in-hand." Serves to further isolate #Manning
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Worsley: Gender identity issues create issue with "defining who you are as person" & figuring out "what role you play in world" #Manning
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Dr. Worsley testified #Manning had no place to seek help adjusting to living as a woman, and even reaching out to Worsley was a risk
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) August 14, 2013
Worsley: “Military [wasn't] exactly friendly toward gay community or anybody that held views as such” #Manning
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Reflecting on gays in military, Worsley said, “Don’t know that it’s friendly now but it seems to be getting to that point" #Manning
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
At that point being homosexual was UCMJ violation. He could be court-martialed & put out of military, Worsley stated #Manning
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Worsley said #Manning was put in "hyper-masculine environment" w/ little support & few coping skills. Pressure would've been "incredible"
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
#Manning's email titled "My Problem" on gender identity issue, with attached photo of Manning in wig and makeup: https://t.co/NuFWTaqHeO
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) August 14, 2013
Moulton: #Manning thought releasing these documents could end Iraq & Afghanistan war and lead public to conclusion that no wars are worth it
— Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) August 14, 2013
GI bill benefits were very important to #Manning. Cpt. Moulton said he's "quite intelligent" & desire was to get college education
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Cpt. Moulton: one of "chronic stressors" for #Manning was "alcoholic parents"; mother was "severely alcoholic" who was non-functional
— Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) August 14, 2013
Moulton testified that #Manning had very high stress as a kid– alcoholic parents, period of homelessness.
— Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) August 14, 2013