Harvard University withdraws fellowship invitation to Chelsea Manning

HarvardUniversityon Friday withdrew afellowshipinvitationtoChelseaManning, the transgender USArmy soldier who was convicted of leaking classified data after two top intelligence experts distanced themselves from the school over the invite.

Manning, 29, was released in May from a USmilitary prison in Kansas where she had been serving time for passing secrets to the WikiLeaks website in the biggest breach of classified data in the history of the United States.

HarvardKennedy School of government announced on Wednesday that it had invited the controversial figure to be a visiting fellow and speak at a forum.

Theinvitationto speak at theuniversitystill stands, said Douglas Elmendorf, the dean ofHarvard Kennedy School, in a statement.

"I now think that designatingChelseaManning as a visiting fellow was a mistake, for which I accept responsibility," Elmendorf said. "I see more clearly now that many people view a visiting fellow title as an honorific, so we should weigh that consideration when offeringinvitations."

The announcement came after CIA Director Mike Pompeo canceled a speaking engagement at theuniversityon Thursday over theinvitationto Manning, whom he called an "American traitor" in a letter to theuniversityregarding his decision.

"My conscience and duty to the men and women of the Central Intelligence Agency will not permit me to betray their trust by appearing to supportHarvard's decision with my appearance," he wrote.

Manning said on Twitter that she was "honored to be 1st disinvited trans woman visitingHarvard fellow. They chill marginalized voices under CIA pressure."

Also on Thursday, former deputy director and acting director of the CIA Michael Morell resigned as a senior fellow at theuniversity, media reported.

"Good," Manning tweeted after Morell resigned.