Chelsea Manning Released From Prison

The BBC reports:

US soldier Chelsea Manning has been released from prison after serving seven years for leaking hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables and military files to Wikileaks. A US Army spokesperson confirmed to the BBC that she had left Fort Leavenworth military prison in Kansas.

Most of what remained of her 35-year sentence was commuted by then-US President Barack Obama in January. Her lawyer earlier said she was excited but likely to be “anxious”. “She’s ready to finally be able to live as the woman that she is,” Nancy Hollander told the BBC. The 29-year-old soldier was born Bradley Manning.

Manning will remain on active but unpaid duty while her appeal is heard. She will continue to receive military health benefits in the meantime.