By DAVID DISHNEAU
Associated Press
FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) - The
U.S. Army private charged with sending reams of government secrets to
WikiLeaks is offering to plead guilty to some lesser offenses.
Pfc. Bradley Manning's
civilian defense attorney, David Coombs, revealed the offer Wednesday
during a pretrial hearing at Fort Meade. The hearing continues Thursday.
Coombs says Manning isn't
pleading guilty to the offenses charged by the government. Rather, he's
offering to plead to less serious offenses that make up part of some of
the more serious charges against him.
Even if the court accepts
the offer, military prosecutors could still try to prove Manning guilty
of the more serious charges. They include aiding the enemy, punishable
by life imprisonment.
Coombs also says Manning has elected to be tried by a military judge, not a jury, in February.
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2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
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