United States

‘First Steps of Freedom': Chelsea Manning Is Released From Prison After Granted Clemency by Obama

The Crescent, Oklahoma, native tweeted after being granted clemency that she plans to move to Maryland

Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning walked out of a military prison Wednesday after seven years behind bars, NBC News reported.

"First steps of freedom," she tweeted, sharing a photo that showed a pair of sneakers. 

Private First Class Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison for leaking a trove of military intelligence records, but President Barack Obama commuted the sentence in January.

Manning, 29, will remain an active duty soldier in the U.S. Army. She won't be paid a salary and it's highly unlikely that she will be called to serve.

But being placed on voluntary excess leave rather than discharged makes her vulnerable to new military punishment or charges if she steps out of line, said one of her attorneys.

The Crescent, Oklahoma, native tweeted after being granted clemency that she plans to move to Maryland.

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