Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell resigned from Harvard as a senior fellow after Chelsea Manning was named a Visiting Fellow at the institution. Morell resigned on Thursday in a huff, saying that he could not be a part of an institution that honors a convicted felon and a classified information 'leaker', according to The Washinton Examiner.
Morell added that senior military leaders admitted the information Manning leaked endangered the lives of US soldiers and that his conscience could not allow him to continue working under the circumstances.
Firestorm
Morell's sentiments were echoed by other people from the veteran community. On Twitter, retired gunnery sergeant Jane Duff wondered how Harvard arrived at the decision to hire Manning yet there were so many veterans who had served honorably. She termed the announcement "unbelievable."
Here are some other reactions -
Harvard logic
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 14, 2017
"This student had a B in 2nd grade"
*DENIED❌*
"Hmm. Chelsea Manning is a traitor & a mentally unstable transgender"
"HIRED✅"
Pardoned by Obama, Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of espionage, gets to teach young and impressionable minds at Harvard. Thanks Obama.
— nyx (@pinkfrost88) September 14, 2017
My thoughts on @Harvard Kennedy School's flawed decision to hire Chelsea Manning as a visiting fellow. #veterans #nationalsec pic.twitter.com/4aLS3unHRg
— Scott Taylor (@Scotttaylorva) September 14, 2017
One user, who identified himself as an ex-soldier tweeted that the only thing Manning was qualified to speak about was treachery.
Many of the people who tweeted expressed their disappointment in Harvard's decision, and for enabling a person considered as a traitor.
Another tweet wondered what example Harvard was setting to today's students; that one could betray their country and still be rewarded with a plum job.
Manning will take up her new position at Harvard's John F.
Kennedy School of Government according to the institution's website.
Conviction
Manning was convicted in 2013 on charges of computer fraud, espionage, and theft. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison until former President Barrack Obama commuted her sentence. She was released in May this year for leaking classified government information to WikiLeaks.
Congress criticized Manning's release from jail and said they considered her act of leaking sensitive and secret government information as posing a great danger to America. House speaker Paul Ryan described Manning's release as "outrageous."
Harvard role
According to her new employer, Harvard, Manning was picked because of her advocacy on transgender rights, especially on Twitter. She will also be speaking on social, economic and technological ramifications of Artificial Intelligence.
Before transitioning, Manning was known as Bradley Manning and was picked as a fellow alongside former White House press secretary Sean Spicer and campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. The three will be visiting fellows during the 2017-2018 school year.
