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Cole Condemns Commutation of Chelsea Manning

January 18, 2017
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after President Obama commuted the sentence for Chelsea Manning. Manning is accused of leaking classified information from the government.
"Private Manning is a traitor to the United States who violated the Espionage Act and deserves to be incarcerated for every single day of his 35 year sentence," said Cole. "Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, President Obama commuted Private Bradley's sentence after serving a mere seven years. Manning's theft of classified documents and the subsequent act of releasing them to Wiki-leaks put American intelligence assets in grave danger. That an American president would even consider releasing a traitor like Private Manning is appalling. This shameful action will weaken America, encourage our enemies and permanently tarnish the reputation of President Obama and those who recommended that he grant this ill-advised commutation."
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