The Pentagon is currently refusing to release 250,000 pages of documents assessing the damage and fallout related to the transfer of classified documents to WikiLeaks by Pfc. Bradley Manning.
David Coombs, Manning's civilian lawyer, has filed a motion to obtain the documents, which could prove crucial in preparing Manning's defense.
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By morphing, distorting and constantly changing definitions, the government is trying to 'define' itself out of producing relevant discovery," Coombs wrote in legal documents cited by the UK-based Guardian.
"This is very disconcerting to the defense... [And] it cannot be permitted to do this... "The defense believes that no defense discovery request would ever be 'just right' to satisfy Goldilocks." "
As TG Daily previously reported, Pfc. Bradley Manning is facing a total of 22 charges - including aiding the enemy - after thousands of classified documents downloaded by the former army intelligence analyst ended up on WikiLeaks.
Manning and Coombs are currently seeking the dismissal of no less than 10 criminal counts. As noted above, the Pentagon, says Coombs, has failed to disclose key evidence that could help Manning defend himself during an upcoming military trial.
"That the government cannot get its ducks in a row with respect to discovery which is clearly under its control does not inspire confidence," Coombs wrote last week.
"Why would the government wait until over a year after to begin its search? How could the government not have noticed that for nine months, it had not received any material from any principal officials in the army? If the government cannot even search its own files properly, how can we believe them when they say they have diligently searched the files of other organizations?"
A military judge will hear oral arguments at a pretrial hearing starting June 6 at Fort Meade, Md, while Manning's military trial is slated to begin on September 21.
If found guilty, the former army intelligence analyst will likely spend the rest of his life in the brig without the chance of parole.
#WikiLeaks http://bit.ly/MdbZ6s #freebrad
David Coombs, Manning's civilian lawyer, has filed a motion to obtain the documents, which could prove crucial in preparing Manning's defense.
"By morphing, distorting and constantly changing definitions, the government is trying to 'define' itself out of producing relevant discovery," Coombs wrote in legal documents cited by the UK-based Guardian.
"This is very disconcerting to the defense... [And] it cannot be permitted to do this... "The defense believes that no defense discovery request would ever be 'just right' to satisfy Goldilocks." "
As TG Daily previously reported, Pfc. Bradley Manning is facing a total of 22 charges - including aiding the enemy - after thousands of classified documents downloaded by the former army intelligence analyst ended up on WikiLeaks.
Manning and Coombs are currently seeking the dismissal of no less than 10 criminal counts. As noted above, the Pentagon, says Coombs, has failed to disclose key evidence that could help Manning defend himself during an upcoming military trial.
"That the government cannot get its ducks in a row with respect to discovery which is clearly under its control does not inspire confidence," Coombs wrote last week.
"Why would the government wait until over a year after to begin its search? How could the government not have noticed that for nine months, it had not received any material from any principal officials in the army? If the government cannot even search its own files properly, how can we believe them when they say they have diligently searched the files of other organizations?"
A military judge will hear oral arguments at a pretrial hearing starting June 6 at Fort Meade, Md, while Manning's military trial is slated to begin on September 21.
If found guilty, the former army intelligence analyst will likely spend the rest of his life in the brig without the chance of parole.
