Wednesday morning, Army Pfc. Bradley Manning got his day in court. When all was said and done, he was left facing 35 years in prison for his part in the WikiLeaks scandal that exposed large amounts of classified government information.

Manning had been convicted last month on multiple charges, including several violations of the Espionage Act. He was not charged with aiding the enemy but still was liable to serve up to 90 years in prison. For those prosecuting him, the trial was about upholding the integrity of the American military system.

"There is value in deterrence, your honor; this court must send a message to any soldier contemplating stealing classified information," said Capt. Joe Morrow, a military prosecutor. "National security crimes that undermine the entire system must be taken seriously."

Morrow had hoped to pin Manning with at least a 60 year sentence, but failed to do so. Manning will have to serve a minimum of one third of the time he was sentenced, minus the three and a half years he has already served. That would put the 25-year-old's potential release from prison at roughly eight years from now, assuming he is released at the first opportunity.

Despite the sentencing being far less than the maximum or even what the prosecuting team had hoped for, those who support Manning still believe that it was too severe. For them, it's a matter of principle and justice for the wrongdoings that Manning exposed.

"When a soldier who shared information with the press and public is punished far more harshly than others who tortured prisoners and killed civilians, something is seriously wrong with our justice system," said Ben Wizner, director of the ACLU's Speech, Privacy & Technology Project.

Manning's lawyers stated that they would formally submit a request for a pardon from the president. That request would contain a statement from Manning, which his lawyers were willing to share after the sentencing:

"When I chose to disclose classified information, I did so out of a love to my country and a sense of duty to others," reads the appeal from Manning. "If you deny my request for a pardon, I will serve my time knowing that sometimes you have to pay a heavy price to live in a free society."