FORT MEADE, Md. -- The fight by supporters of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning to free the soldier is taking a new turn even as he returns to prison with a 35-year sentence for giving classified information to WikiLeaks.
His lawyer said Wednesday he'll ask the commander of the Military District of Washington to reduce the punishment recommended by a court-martial judge.
Defence attorney David Coombs says he'll also ask the White House to pardon Manning or commute his sentence to time served.
Manning was sentenced for leaking 700,000 military and diplomatic documents and some battlefield video.
Even his supporters have pivoted in the fight. During the sentencing hearing Wednesday, they wore T-shirts reading, "truth." Hours later they had changed into shirts that said, "President Obama: Pardon Bradley Manning."
