Chelsea Manning found guilty of violating prison rules

Convicted national security leaker Chelsea Manning has been found guilty of violating prison rules and will receive three weeks of recreational restrictions at the Kansas military prison where she's serving a 35-year sentence.

Manning was accused of having a copy of Vanity Fair with Caitlyn Jenner on the cover and an expired tube of toothpaste, among other things.

Her attorney Chase Strangio said in a press release that Manning was convicted of possession of prohibited property, medicine misuse over the toothpaste, disrespect and disorderly conduct during a hearing Tuesday that was closed to the public.

He says Manning received 21 days of recreational restrictions limiting access to the gym, library and outdoors. Manning could have faced indefinite solitary confinement at the military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

"No one should have to face the lingering threat of solitary confinement for reading and writing about the conditions we encounter in the world," Strangio said. "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."

The U.S. Army has declined to release any information on the results of the hearing, citing the Privacy Act of 1976. The military said in a statement last week that it is committed to "a fair and equitable process," and called such proceedings "a common practice in correctional systems to hold prisoners accountable to facility rules."

Strangio credited public support for keeping Manning out of solitary confinement. Petitions signed by 100,000 people were delivered Tuesday to the U.S. Army by digital rights group Fight for the Future and others.

"When I spoke to Chelsea earlier today she wanted to convey the message to supporters that she is 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," Strangio said.

The former intelligence analyst was convicted of espionage and other offenses for leaking war logs, diplomatic cables and battlefield video to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks in 2010.

In addition to the recreational restrictions, the convictions that are now on her record could be cited in future hearings concerning parole or clemency, which could delay her transition to a less restrictive custody status, Strangio said.

Al Jazeera and The Associated Press