5 Things to Know About the WikiLeaks Case

Since his arrest in May of 2010, Pfc. Bradley Manning has been a figure of national discussion. 

Manning is charged with leaking classified military information to WikiLeaks, a not-for-profit organization that publishes information deemed secret, private or classified.

Facing 22 counts of violating military code, Manning could be sentenced to life in prison, if found guilty of "aiding the enemy," according to CNN. 

The 23-year-old, who turns 24 on Saturday, will be at Fort Meade Friday for his Article 32 hearing. Originally from Oklahoma, Manning was initially arrested in Kuwait, transferred to Quantico, VA, and then moved to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas before coming to Fort Meade for the hearing.

Below are five things you should know about the hearing and Manning's case prior to its commencement Friday.

1 - Pfc. Bradley Manning has a huge following of supporters.

• After the U.S. Military arrested Manning in 2010, several websites were created for those who support Manning's effort to share the classified files of the military.
• More than $150,000 has been raised by citizen supporters to pay for Manning's trial fees. He also receives hundreds of support letters every week. 

2 - Manning was under suicide watch and Prevention of Injury (POI) during his time at the Quantico Marine Corps Base.

• David E. Coombs, Manning's defense attorney, wrote that Manning was placed under suicide watch after two psychiatrists recommended it in January 2011. The "watch" meant Manning was stripped of his prescription glasses and only wore underwear while remaining in his cell for 24 hours straight, Coombs said in his blog. 

3 - Countless chat logs, including Twitter accounts, may be used to examine Manning's conversations with journalists, "hackers" and WikiLeaks.

• Conversations between Manning and Adrian Lamo of The Washington Post and Kevin Poulsen of Wired Magazine, including Twitter accounts, were subpoenaed by the Department of Justice. 

4 - Prior to Manning's arrest, personnel labeled the private first class as mentally unstable. 

• Coombs hinted in his blog that his "witness list" could include military personnel who labeled Manning as mentally unstable prior to his arrest in 2010. Coombs also said it could be a key aspect of his defense.

5 - President Obama said Manning, "broke the law."

• While speaking with a Bradley Manning supporter in April 2011 in San Francisco, CA, President Obama discussed his view on the case. 
• "If I release stuff, and I'm not authorized to do so, I'm breaking the law," Obama said. "[Manning] broke the law."