Ms. Manning, who twice tried to kill herself last year, is set to be freed on May 17 of this year rather than in 2045. The move was criticized by several prominent Republicans, including the chairmen of the House and Senate armed services committees. Speaker Paul D. Ryan even called it “outrageous.” President Obama now leaves in place a dangerous precedent that those who compromise our national security won’t be held accountable for their crimes,” he added in a statement. The White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, discussed “some important differences” between Ms.Manning and Mr. Snowden cases. “Mr. Snowden fled into the arms of an adversary and has sought refuge in a country that most recently made a concerted effort to undermine confidence in our democracy,” he said.
