The Army is assembling a special board to evaluate the mental state of Pfc. Bradley Manning, who is being held on charges that he illegally obtained thousands of classified documents and turned them over to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks in what might be the biggest security breach in U.S. history.
Lt. Col. Robert Manning, an Army spokesman, said Monday that no further legal proceedings will happen until Pfc. Manning is evaluated by what is called a “706 board” and a recommendation is made on his fitness to stand trial.
The Army charged the 23-year-old private in May while he was assigned as an intelligence analyst with a combat brigade in Iraq. Since July, he has been held in solitary confinement in the brig at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
“What’s happening right now, they are convening a 706 board, which is a board to determine his mental fitness, which was requested by the defense,” Col. Manning said. “Because of the nature of the charges, that board is being screened. Once that board meets and determines Pfc. Manning’s mental fitness, then they will continue to move forward with the Uniform Code of Military Justice process. That’s the first thing that needs to happen, this 706 board. … I don’t have a timeline on that.”
Full Story: Army will evaluate mental state of suspect in WikiLeaks – Washington Times