If the government charged that Manning leaked 50 cables, it presumably didn’t come from his own confession, unless he leaked those cables to someone after May 22. That means they either got proof from Wikileaks that it received the cables, Manning leaked the cables after May 22, or someone else (Lamo?) received the cables and therefore offered proof they got leaked.

Will the greater discovery rights afforded to defendants in military criminal trials allow the Fort Hood shooter defense to shed light on CIA/NSA domestic spying?