The pre-trial hearing of US soldier Bradley Manning has began at Fort Meade in Maryland.
Manning was arrested in May 2010 in Iraq on suspicion of having passed secret material to the website WikiLeaks.
Amid tight security, the proceedings, known as an Article 32, got underway on Friday, with the hearing called to determine whether the alleged whistleblower should stand before a full court-martial.
The intelligence officer is charged on 37 counts of passing sensitive information.
In some early courtroom theatre, Manning's attorney asked the presiding officer, Paul Almanza, to step aside as he has a civilian occupation with the Justice Department, which is currently conducting a criminal investigation into WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Almanza called a recess to consider the request.
The 23-year-old accused (he turns 24 on Saturday) is suspected of disclosing the a raft of information from a US military base outside Baghdad. The disclosure includes embassy cables, war logs and a video of an American helicopter shooting on a group of civilians.
If convicted, Manning could face life imprisonment, however supporters of the accused have already started to assemble outside the base in preparation for a planned demonstration on Saturday.
Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower that disclosed Pentagon Papers relating to the Vietnam War will reportedly address the group.
According to The Guardian, “busloads” of military personnel have been brought in for he trial in case the demonstration turns violent. Reporting from inside the courtroom is tight, with journalists forbidden from filing live updates.