Civil Liberties

Manning Details Harsh Treatment in WikiLeaks Case

Asks for charges to be dismissed.

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A U.S. Army private charged in a massive leak of government secrets claims his harsh pretrial treatment during nine months in a Marine Corps brig was directed from high up the chain of command and warrants dismissal of the entire case, according to documents his civilian lawyer released Friday.

The 110-page motion alleges Pfc. Bradley Manning developed a rash from being forced to sleep beneath a stiff, suicide-prevention blanket and suffered an anxiety attack due to harassment by guards. It repeats well-publicized claims that Manning was forced for several days to surrender all his clothing at night and stand naked in his cell for roll call. For several days in January 2011, he was forbidden to wear his eyeglasses and forced to strip down to his underwear during the day, the motion contends.