Daniel Hale is a former military intelligence analyst who blew the whistle on the US drone warfare program in Afghanistan and Iraq. After leaving the military, Daniel was an outspoken anti-war activist, even appearing prominently in National Bird, an award-winning documentary on the US drone program. He anonymously authored a chapter in the book The Assassination Complex, and he’s suspected as the source behind The Intercept’s series “The Drone Papers."

One of the major revelations of the leaks is that 90% of the casualties from drone strikes are not the intended target. The leaks also detail the chain of command that decides who is targeted for drone strikes. Based on this information, human rights experts argue that the US military’s actions constitute war crimes.

Fight for the Future supports all whistleblowers, including Daniel Hale. For decades those who take that risk have faced harsh consequences for their bravery. With this knowledge, Daniel Hale, Reality Winner, Chelsea Manning, and many other whistleblowers choose to do the right thing at the expense of their own freedom. Telling the truth is not a crime.

In 2019, Daniel was arrested and charged under the Espionage Act, and he’s facing a maximum sentence of ten years. In May, he pled guilty to one count under the Espionage Act, and has been incarcerated since then, in the same military prison where Chelsea Manning was once detained. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 27, and we are calling on Judge O’Grady to grant Daniel leniency.

Without Daniel’s truth-telling, we likely never would have had proof of the horrors of the US drone program. Sign the petition in support of leniency in his sentencing.

LETTER TEXT:

Dear Judge O’Grady,

We, the undersigned, respectfully ask for leniency for Daniel Hale.

Although he pled guilty to one count of “retention and transmission of national defense information” in violation of the Espionage Act, Daniel Hale is not a spy. On the contrary, his actions were patriotic and served democracy and the American people.

Because of his courage the public now better understands the decision-making process for US targeted killings and that nearly 90% of those killed by drone strikes were not the intended target. These are matters of great national interest.

We ask you to consider that Daniel Hale’s actions were actions of conscience and public service, and grant him leniency.