

UPDATE: Bradley Manning trial judge increased press security "because of repeat violations of the rules of court."



Journalists and bloggers covering closing arguments in the military trial of Wikileaks source Bradley Manning are reporting a far more intense security climate at Ft. Meade today, as compared to the past 18 months of pre-trial hearings and court proceedings.

@carwinb, @kgosztola, @nathanLfuller, and @wikileakstruck have tweeted about armed guards standing directly behind them as they type into laptops in the designated press area, being "screamed at" for having "windows" open on their computers that show Twitter in a browser tab, and having to undergo extensive, repeated, invasive physical searches.

I visited the trial two weeks ago. While there were many restrictions for attending press that I found surprising (reporters couldn't work from the courtroom, mobile devices weren't allowed in the press room), it wasn't this bad. I was treated respectfully and courteously by Army Public Affairs Officers and military police, and was only grumped at a few times for stretching those (silly) restrictions. I was physically searched only once, when entering the courtroom, and that's standard for civilian or military trials.

But the vibe is very different today in the Smallwood building where reporters are required to work, about a quarter mile away from the actual courtroom. Tweets from some of the attending journalists are below; there are about 40-50 of them present and not all are tweeting. Internet access is spotty today. Oh, wait; as I type this blog post, I'm now seeing updates that they're being told they are not allowed to access Twitter at all. Why has the climate changed so much in the final few days of the trial? What is the Army afraid of?

Press deserve explanation from public affairs on why they're now, after months of court martial, having armed MPs patrol press #Manning — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) July 25, 2013

Armed military police officer leaned over me during closing argument & said don't have Twitter open at all #Manning — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) July 25, 2013

Armed military police officer leaned over me during closing argument & said don't have Twitter open at all #Manning — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) July 25, 2013

Press have internet in media center, but it has been very sporadic & unreliable today, making it difficult to report from trial #Manning — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) July 25, 2013

Media don't have press freedom here. We have press security. We are all protected from our own electronic devices. #Manning — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) July 25, 2013

I wonder if individuals who signed up for military ever thought they'd be policing press. #Manning — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) July 25, 2013

Media are now being wanded by military police when they go in & out of media center. #Manning — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) July 25, 2013

Spent close to an hour standing in a TSA-style checkpoint military public affairs now has media going through #Manning — Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) July 25, 2013

Journalists sending me emails telling me soldier stationed right behind me with a gun. I tell you, OVER THE TOP JUDGE LIND #Manning — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

Guards seems particularly focused on me @kgosztola says a journalist. #Manning — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

Armed guard patrolling the aisles of the media center, peering on journalists comp, including behind me. Fucking Creepy. #Manning — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

We re now being searched to get into press pool. #manning (first time) — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

I emptied my bag– which is a mix between a clown car and a briefcase. Tampons, Deodorant, a Banana, and 2 comps, and 100 cables. #Manning — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

This is new: armed soldiers roam media center quietly reprimanding journalists for even browsing Internet when #Manning trial's in session — Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) July 25, 2013

Packed media center, all using Ft. Meade WiFi, which goes down frequently & will likely be a struggle today. No hotspots allowed. #Manning — Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) July 25, 2013

We're told that Judge Lind will give 24-hours notice of when she'll deliver her verdict. #Manning — Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) July 25, 2013

The pressroom now has armed MPs looking over every journalists shoulder to see if they are tweeting. — Art Superheroes (@WikileaksTruck) July 25, 2013

All the journalists are being swept for cell phones. This process has taken over an hour and there are still 20 more to go. — Art Superheroes (@WikileaksTruck) July 25, 2013

All the journalists are being swept for cell phones. This process has taken over an hour and there are still 20 more to go. — Art Superheroes (@WikileaksTruck) July 25, 2013

It is an undelicious irony that at Ft Meade, home of NSA, media filing center's Internet – Comcast, apparently – keeps going down. #manning — Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) July 25, 2013

MPs with guns are literally watching over our shoulders in Ft. Meade media center during #Manning closing arguments — Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) July 25, 2013

One MP returned several times to a position immediately behind @carwinb — Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) July 25, 2013

Guard just came up and started bothering @kgosztola during last session for apparently having a 'Window' open on his screen. #Manning — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

MDW spokesperson came out screaming at press for not transmitting anything during USG closing arguments. #Manning — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

MDW spokesperson came out screaming at press for not transmitting anything during USG closing arguments. #Manning — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

Soldiers must have seen our tweets — much creepier now. Admonished @kgosztola for having a window *open* & staring excessively at @carwinb — Nathan Fuller (@nathanLfuller) July 25, 2013

FYI The stenographer cannot transmit to her proofreader anymore– while she transcribes. @xeni @FreedomofPress @trevortimm — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

Creepy having armed MPs in camo patrolling behind each row of reporters & looking over shoulders as we take notes on Manning trial today — Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) July 25, 2013

Three cheers for @charlie_savage for speaking up to the guard snooping on him #Manning — Alexa O'Brien (@carwinb) July 25, 2013

So, @FreedomofPress crowd-funded stenographers can't transmit transcripts. "@carwinb: No more internet allowed during court session." — Xeni Jardin (@xeni) July 25, 2013

I got up mid-Manning trial & 1 of the armed MPs monitoring for phones/aircards (media ctr=court, not allowed!) was in back looking at iPhone — Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) July 25, 2013