The U.S. military is denying it is holding the alleged military whistleblower Bradley Manning in solitary confinement. A U.S. Army private, Manning has been held at the U.S. Marine Corps brig at Quantico, Virginia, since July on suspicion of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks. Manning’s attorney has claimed his confinement violates a military rule against “pretrial punishment,” and friends and family say Manning’s mental and physical health has declined. But speaking to the New York Times, military spokesperson Col. T.V. Johnson rejected the allegation as “poppycock.” He added, “[Manning’s] treatment is firm, fair and respectful.” Johnson said Manning is allowed to speak with guards and prisoners in nearby cells, although he is not allowed to see them. He also acknowledged Manning is confined to his cell for 23 hours each day. WikiLeaks meanwhile has announced it has donated $15,000 to Manning’s defense fund. The figure is less than half the $50,000 initially pledged to help Manning last year. In a statement, the Bradley Manning Support Network, which has previously criticized WikiLeaks for not following through on its pledges, said, “This donation from WikiLeaks is vital to our efforts to ensure Bradley receives a fair, open trial.”