Chelsea Manning 'Safe' After Troubling Tweets

BETHESDA, MD — Chelsea Manning, the transgender activist who is running for U.S. Senate in Maryland, is "safe" after posting troubling tweets Sunday that left friends and followers concerned she would harm herself.

Manning, the former Army private convicted of leaking troves of government documents to WikiLeaks, since deleted the suicidal tweets.

A tweet posted to her account said Manning is "safe" and "on the phone with friends."

The Baltimore Sun reports one tweet said: “I'm sorry - I tried - I'm sorry I let you all down. Im not really cut out for this world - I tried adapting to this world out here but I failed you - I couldn't do this anymore - I can take people I don't know hating me but not my own friends. I tried and I'm sorry about my failure.”

Another tweet had a photo of a person standing on what looks like a high window ledge with the words "im sorry."

SEE ALSO: Chelsea Manning Files For US Senate Run In Maryland

Manning's account later said she is safe, thanked her Twitter followers for their concern and asked for space.

Manning will challenge Sen. Ben Cardin — a Democrat who has served two terms and is up for reelection in November — in the Democratic Senate primary on June 26.

The filing states that Manning is running as a Democrat. According to Manning's website, she currently lives in the D.C. suburbs of Maryland; The Washington Post says Manning lives in North Bethesda.

Manning was sentenced to serve 35 years in prison but former President Barack Obama commuted her sentence last year. The commutation was criticized by some, including President Trump, who tweeted shortly after his inauguration, "ungrateful TRAITOR Chelsea Manning, who should never have been released from prison, is now calling President Obama a weak leader. Terrible!"

The day after her sentencing, Manning revealed that she was a transgender woman. Manning's time in prison had come under scrutiny and her alleged mistreatment led her to attempt suicide twice. Her incarceration was complicated by the fact that she is a transgender woman serving time at a male military penitentiary.

When her commutation was announced, Manning said that when released she wanted to give back to help the trans community. Manning is a progressive activist and writes on various issues including transparency, free speech and civil liberties.

In 2010, Manning was arrested after she provided nearly 750,000 documents to Wikileaks that included documents about the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, State Department cables, and information about prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.

Help for Those Considering Suicide

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources to help.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-SUICIDE (or 1-800-784-2433). Its website offers services including a live chat.

Also check out resources available around Maryland to help those who are in crisis.