Obama commutes Chelsea Manning's 35-year sentence. Twitter reacts

Wikileaks source Chelsea Manning looks set to be released from jail in May after President Barack Obama's eleventh hour lemency saw her sentence dramatically reduced.

Manning has becoming a hugely divisive personality in the US, after she was arrested and jailed in 2010 for passing on sensitive military files to Wikileaks while serving in the military.

It follows campaigns for her freedom, particularly given fears over her safety and well-being in prison.

For some, Manning is a brave seeker of truth who sacrificed her future to see war crimes come to light.

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 17, 2017" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post She's only 29: extremely smart, compassionate and passionate. Whatever she chooses to do, her impact will be huge. https://t.co/teQuugdRXU — Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 17, 2017

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 17, 2017" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama. https://t.co/IeumTasRNN — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 17, 2017

— Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) January 16, 2017" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post So much love, so much warmth. >=D https://t.co/ehSDR4n469 #HugsForChelsea — Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) January 16, 2017

VICTORY: Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence from 35 years to 7. Release date now May 17. Background: https://t.co/HndsbVbRer — WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 17, 2017 " style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post VICTORY: Obama commutes Chelsea Manning sentence from 35 years to 7. Release date now May 17. Background: https://t.co/HndsbVbRer — WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) January 17, 2017

Others saw her leak of confidential military files as highly irresponsible, putting the lives of Afghans working against the Taliban at risk with some of their names going public.

— jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) January 17, 2017" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post Manning released; the Afghans who were helping our troops couldn’t be reached for comment because the TALIBAN IS TRYING TO KILL THEM. — jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) January 17, 2017

While many believe the pardon for someone found guilty of espionage should not be made at this critical juncture when intelligence agencies have stated Russia is attempting to undermine the US democratic process.

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) January 17, 2017" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post .@POTUS's commutation of #ChelseaManning’s sentence is a grave mistake that will encourage further acts of espionage https://t.co/nB5SeHCrKM — John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) January 17, 2017

— Bret Stephens (@StephensWSJ) January 17, 2017" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post Because you still don't get the point: Manning's crimes were serious and he should be nobody's cause celebre. And I was always anti-Assange. — Bret Stephens (@StephensWSJ) January 17, 2017

Overall there was strong symapthy for her but less so for the Wikileaks organisation. Many pointed out that the group's founder Julian Assange had pledged to accept extradition to the US if Manning was given clemency.

— Erika Heidewald (@erikaheidewald) January 17, 2017" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post The moral of the story for Chelsea Manning's case is don't trust Julian Assange. — Erika Heidewald (@erikaheidewald) January 17, 2017

— Mr Grey Ghost (@Mr_Ghostly) January 17, 2017" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post Manning's sentence has been commuted by Obama. The ball is in Assange's court now. You can leave the embassy, bruh. @vpkivimaki @nadabakos pic.twitter.com/erMcg1A0ip — Mr Grey Ghost (@Mr_Ghostly) January 17, 2017