Whistleblowing

Leaking US military files was ‘responsibility to public’ – Manning in first interview after release

It was her responsibility to reveal classified military documents to the public, Chelsea Manning told ABC in her first interview after leaving prison, adding that she was unaware that the leaks could threaten US national security.

“I’m just me. It’s as simple as that,” Manning told ABC Nightline co-anchor Juju Chang, when asked if she considered herself a hero or a traitor.

She said she “accepted responsibility” for providing 700,000 military documents on Iraq and Afghanistan to WikiLeaks in 2010 – the biggest military leak in US history.