In Sentencing Hearing, Manning Apologizes

In his first public statement since February, Pfc. Bradley Manning apologized for his actions.

"I'm sorry that my actions hurt people. I'm sorry that it hurt the United States," Manning said in an unsworn statement Wednesday during a sentencing hearing at Fort Meade, the Associated Press reports.

He said he understood what he was doing at the time, but did not understand the harm the leaks would cause. The statement is unsworn, so it cannot be cross-examined, according to the AP report.

Manning was found guilty in July on charges including six espionage counts, but acquitted on the most serious charge against him, aiding the enemy, which would likely have meant a life sentence. Manning faces up to 90 years in prison.

Manning admits leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents and State Department cables to the website Wikileaks.

Also Wednesday, a military psychiatrist testified for the defense that Manning suffered from gender identity disorder, NBC News reports. The defense portion of the sentencing is expected to wrap up Wednesday, according to the report. Military judge Col. Denise Lind will decide Manning's sentence.

In a February plea hearing, Manning read a 35-page prepared statement, NBC News reported at the time.