Obama Commutes Chelsea Manning's Sentence; Snowden Supporters Ask for His Pardon

28:09

Michael Krasny

Jan 19, 2017 at

Save Article

Failed to save article

Please try again

Protesters from a coalition of groups demonstrate the conviction of Wikileaker Bradley Manning late August 21, 2013 in front of the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo: Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, President Obama shortened Chelsea Manning’s 35-year prison sentence, allowing her to be released in May after spending almost seven years in jail. The former Army intelligence analyst was convicted of releasing classified documents to WikiLeaks. Some Manning supporters also called for the pardon of Edward Snowden, who is facing espionage charges for intelligence leaks. But the White House said there was a “stark difference” between Manning, who stood trial in the U.S., and Snowden, who is living in Russia under temporary asylum. We examine the politics and precedent of pardons.

Guests:

David French, senior fellow, National Review Institute; writer, National Review

Dinah PoKempner, general counsel, Human Rights Watch, which has called for the pardon of Edward Snowden.

Sponsored

lower waypoint

next waypoint

Violence Escalates in Sudan as Civil War Enters Second Year NPR's Sarah McCammon on Leaving the Evangelical Church KQED Youth Takeover: We’re Getting a WNBA Team Rainn Wilson from ‘The Office’ on Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution Forum From the Archives: Remembering Glide Memorial's Cecil Williams Erik Aadahl on the Power of Sound in Film KQED Youth Takeover: How Can San Jose Schools Create Safer Campuses?Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Major Homelessness Case Percival Everett’s Novel “James” Recenters the Story of Huck Finn Have We Entered Into a New Cold War Era?