Manning Compares WikiLeaks Damage to Possibility of a Kardashian Presidency

[struggle4progress]

Wednesday, July 11, 2012
By ADAM KLASFELD
(CN) - ... "Anything 'could' happen - the world 'could' end tomorrow; Kim Kardashian 'could' be elected president of the United States of America; I 'could' win the lottery," Coombs wrote. "These are not the types of 'could' that 18 U.S.C. Section 793 contemplates" ...

Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, called that idea "fanciful" in a brief dated June 21 and released Wednesday.

"The defense should be able to probe whether the witness's testimony that the information could cause damage to the United States is remote, speculative, far-fetched and fanciful by examining such witnesses on the fact that two years after the alleged leaks, the conclusion is still merely that the information 'could' cause damage - not that it 'did' cause damage," the brief states ...

"The accused's personal decisions about whether he thought the document would be classified is irrelevant," Fein told the court in late April. "An OCA must determine whether the document could, prospectively, could damage the national security" ...

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/07/11/48287.htm

[Lionessa]

1. I agree. "Could" may be reason to arrest and even charge, but

at this late date, it's time to put up or shut up.