By Trevor Timm

Yesterday, closing arguments began in the trial of accused WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning. But even as the prosecution's arguments in the courtroom may have an enormous impact on journalism, another disturbing issue of press freedom was unfolding in the media center: reporters covering the trial were being intimidated by members of the military, who seemed to be surveilling what they were writing and doing on their computers.

Boing Boing editor (and our board member) Xeni Jardin has the most comprehensive rundown using tweets by reporters on hand, including journalists Alexa O'Brien and Kevin Gozstola, two mainstays in the press room. They indicated reporters were yelled at by the military police and searched for electronic devices multiple times. Most disturbingly, armed military police continually peered over the reporters' shoulders at their screens as they were trying to report, instructing them to close various windows they had open on their computers.

Apparently, the strict conditions were put in place because of "repeat violations of the rules of the court both in the courtroom and the media operations center" though no evidence was given for those violations and there have been no known leaks from the courtroom since the pre-trial period, which was months ago. The New York Times described the scene in the media room like this:

While [military prosecutor] made his arguments, reporters watched the trial on a close-captioned feed at the media center. Two military police officers in camouflage fatigues and armed with holstered handguns paced behind each row there, looking over the journalists’ shoulders, which had not happened during the trial. No explanation was given.