QuoteThis resulted in Manning providing over...

This quote seems to be false--Assange's conspiracy did not lead to document leaks. Manning was able to take the files anyway. From what I read in the indictment, Manning simply used a bootable Linux thumb drive to take files off computers--more cumbersome than logging in as admin, which is where the cracked passwords could have come in handy.

There is no indication in the indictment that Assange actually hacked anything, just that he tried and failed to crack the hash file that Manning provided.

It's kind of surprising (though I suppose it shouldn't be) that if someone gives you a hash file, and you run johntheripper on it for a bit (knowing that the passwords are for some 3rd party government computer), that that would be enough to land you in prison. And extradition is just the cherry on top.

Of course, unsaid here is how much he angered US authorities in ways that actually did not break any laws.

That maximum sentence is shorter than expected for hacking classified information.