Chelsea Manning may be sent to solitary confinement

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National security leaker Chelsea Manning could be placed in solitary confinement indefinitely for allegedly violating prison rules.

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Chelsea Manning, the transgender Army private convicted of leaking national security secrets, faces a hearing Tuesday for prison infractions that could result in solitary confinement. Manning, who was intelligence analyst Bradley Manning when plead USA TODAY

Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning, then-Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, is escorted out of a courthouse in Fort Meade, Md., on June 5, 2013.(Photo: Patrick Semansky, AP)

Chelsea Manning, the transgender Army private convicted of leaking national security secrets, faces a hearing Tuesday for prison infractions that could result in solitary confinement.

Manning, who was intelligence analystBradley Manning when arrested in 2010, is charged with disrespect of aprison officer and isaccused having books and magazines includingVanity Fair and Cosmopolitan, among other offenses.

Her lawyers sayshe is being harassed.

The ACLU said in an email thatManning was charged withdisrespect for requesting a lawyerwhen she felt she was being accused of misconduct. Other charges included disorderly conduct for sweeping food on the the floor, possessing an expired tube of toothpaste and possessing "prohibited property" some of themdocuments pertaining to trans rights and government transparency includingthe Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Torture.

Prison documents alsolistseveral books and magazines, including aCosmopolitanissue that included an interview with Manningand aVanity Fair issue withCaitlyn Jenner on the cover.

This kind of action has the potential to chill Chelseas speech and silence her altogether," ACLU lawyer Chase Strangio told USA TODAY. "We are hopeful that the prison will respond by dismissing these charges and ensuring that she is not unfairly targeted based on her activism, her identity, or her pending lawsuit.

The ACLU said prisondocuments confirm that all thecharges are classified as "serious." The ACLU said Manningcould face solitary confinementindefinitely.

The closed hearing will be held at the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.,where Manning is serving her sentence.The barracks referred inquiries to Army spokeswoman Tatjana Christian, whoreleased a statement providing few details about the case. A Disciplinary and Adjustment Board will decide the matter, the statement said.

"The Armyremains committed to a fair and equitable process in the adjudication ofadministrative matters for all of its soldiers," the statement said.

USA TODAY

Cost of treating transgender troops called negligible

Manning, 27, was arrested in May 2010,accused of violating the Espionage Act afterreleasing to the Wikileaks website about 700,000 classified or sensitive military and diplomatic documents.Charges against Manning ultimatelyincluded aiding the enemy, which could have brought the death sentence.Shepleaded guilty in February 2013 to 10 of the charges and months laterwas convicted of more charges but acquitted of aiding the enemy.

Her lawyers argued she had been disillusioned by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and believedthe documents, including diplomatic cables and military reports, should be seen by the public.She was sentenced a few weeks later, and the next day herlawyers issued a press release announcing that Manningwas a female and askingthat she be referred to as Chelsea and withfeminine pronouns.

Manning later soughthormone therapy and to be able to live as a woman. Transgender individuals were not allowed to serve in the U.S. military, and the Defense Department did not provide such treatment. The Army approved Manning's treatment early this year.

Last month,Defense Secretary AshCarter issued a memo to top military brass and civilians outlining his plan to protect transgender troops from being discharged and directingofficials to develop a plan within six months to incorporate those troops into the ranks.

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Chelsea Manning may be sent to solitary confinement