Editor,

I’m writing to call on your paper for increased coverage of Pfc. Bradley Manning’s trial.

Manning, who has been accused of leaking the largest document dump in U.S. history to Wikileaks, will be in Fort Meade for a pretrial hearing on July 16 and currently faces 23 different charges including one of "aiding the enemy.” If convicted, he faces a sentence of life imprisonment.

Despite over 760 days in pretrial confinement, many media outlets have been too silent on Manning’s case, allowing the government’s mistreatment of him to continue in near secrecy.

A reckless, opaque conviction for Pfc. Manning could have dire consequences for future whistleblowers, journalists and activists. Because of this, the media must do its part to engage the American public in a conversation about this trial and our government’s behavior before it’s too late.

I ask that you do your part and increase coverage of the Bradley Manning trial, beginning with his hearing on July 16.

Mark Cappetta

San Mateo