Whistleblowing

Harvard makes convicted spy Chelsea Manning a 'fellow,' igniting firestorm

A growing backlash over Harvard's appointment of convicted Wikileaks leaker Chelsea Manning as a visiting fellow saw CIA Director Mike Pompeo cancel a planned appearance at the Ivy League school Thursday, while former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell resigned his position as a senior fellow.

In a letter to Harvard explaining his decision not to give a scheduled speech at the university, Pompeo described Manning as an "American traitor."

"[The decision to cancel] is a decision I did not make lightly," Pompeo wrote before adding, "my conscience and duty to the men and women of the Central Intelligence Agency will not permit me to betray their trust by appearing to support Harvard's decision with my appearance at tonight's event."

The CIA released the letter sent by Pompeo, who has a law degree from Harvard, late Thursday evening.

Earlier Thursday, Morell, a former CIA deputy director who twice served as acting director, announced his resignation from Harvard's Belfer Center was a result of Manning's appointment, saying he couldn't be part of an organization "that honors a convicted felon and leaker of classified information."