Hacker News Reader

Both involve people refusing to testify, and why people are being treated differently is not obvious.

Chelsea Manning was not jailed or fined for refusing to testify in and of itself. I also refuse to testify, for example, but I'm pretty sure no cop will come arrest me and put me in jail and no court will fine me.

Context is a thing, and it is relevant here.

> Chelsea Manning was not jailed or fined for refusing to testify in and of itself.

Yes, she was.

> I also refuse to testify, for example,

You can't refuse to testify if you haven't been called.

You might be inclined to refuse to testify, but that's not the same as actually refusing.

She was jailed for refusing to testify, and any relevant context is not clear, hence asking "why?"

No, she was jailed because she was found to be in contempt of court.

No, she was jailed to coerce her into testifying as she refused to. To be found in contempt of court, she would have needed to be charged.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com