USA

Wikileaks Scandal Soldier Gets New Name

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning is escorted to a security vehicle outside a courthouse in Fort Meade, Maryland after a hearing in his court martial, August 20, 2013.

A Kansas judge has agreed to formally change the name of the U.S. soldier convicted of giving classified documents to WikiLeaks.

Leavenworth County District Judge David King's office has confirmed to VOA he allowed Bradley Edward Manning to become Chelsea Elizabeth Manning during a brief hearing Wednesday.

Manning, a former intelligence analyst, is serving a 35-year sentence at an Army prison in Kansas for leaking classified government information to the anti-secrecy website.

At least two Army behavioral health specialists have diagnosed Manning with gender identity disorder.