Chelsea Manning has been found guilty of possessing unapproved reading material by a panel at Fort Leavenworth prison but will be spared the indefinite solitary confinement that had reportedly been among her possible sentences, according to a tweet sent from her official account.

Instead the prison board ruled during a disciplinary hearing held on Tuesday that Manning will face 21 days of restrictions on her recreational activities, including no access to a gym, a library or the outdoors.

Manning was given a 35-year sentence for leaking US state secrets to WikiLeaks.



“I was found guilty of all four charges at today’s board; I am receiving 21 days of restrictions on recreation – no gym, library or outdoors,” announced a tweet sent from Manning’s official Twitter account, @xychelsea.

I was found guilty of all 4 charges @ today's board; I am receiving 21 days of restrictions on recreation--no gym, library or outdoors. — Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) August 18, 2015

A petition of more than 100,000 signatures was delivered to the US army liaison office in Congress on Tuesday asking that the charges against Manning be dropped.

Chase Strangio, Manning’s attorney at the ACLU, said after the verdict that Manning was “so thankful for the thousands of people from around the world who let the government know that we are watching and scrutinizing what happens to her behind prison walls”.

“It was no doubt this support that kept [Chelsea] out of solitary confinement,” said Strangio.

Manning was accused of “disrespect”, “disorderly conduct” and other violations under the rules of the Fort Leavenworth prison in Kansas where she is serving her sentence.



She was also charged with “medicine misuse” after a search of her cell on 9 July uncovered an expired tube of toothpaste.

“A tube of anti-cavity toothpaste, MKIC, was found in your possession past its expiration date of 9 April 2015. You are involved in violation of ACC Policy Letter 16, using, possessing, handling or storing of medicine, except as authorized by the facility medical staff. Failure to take medication as prescribed by medical staff,” read the charging documents, which were also shared on Manning’s twitter account.

According to Manning other items confiscated from her cell included the memoir I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, a novel featuring trans women called A Safe Girl to Love, the LGBT publication Out Magazine, the Caitlyn Jenner issue of Vanity Fair and a copy of Cosmopolitan that included an interview with Manning.

This is the official inventory of confiscated books and magazines. pic.twitter.com/MvlaU2UmbL — Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) August 14, 2015

Her lawyers said they had been barred from Tuesday’s four-hour hearing and that prior to the hearing Manning was barred from accessing the prison’s library.

Strangio said the fact that Manning faced the disciplinary board without counsel sets a “concerning precedent” for the remainder of her incarceration.

“Not only does this punishment mean the immediate loss of library and recreation for Chelsea, but she also will carry these infractions through her parole and clemency process and will be held longer in the more restrictive custody where she is now incarcerated,” said Strangio.

Now these convictions will follow me thru to any parole/clemency hearing forever. Was expecting to be in min custody in Feb, now years added — Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) August 18, 2015

“No one should have to face the lingering threat of solitary confinement for reading and writing about the conditions we encounter in the world. Chelsea’s voice is critical to our public discourse about government accountability and trans justice and we can only preserve it if we stay vigilant in our advocacy on her behalf.”