Officials reportedly claim the Department of Justice is ready to file arrest charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Press advocates warn that if the US goes after the pro-transparency publisher, they could go after other news outlets as well.
On Thursday, CNN and the Washington Post cited unnamed US officials as having information that the US has prepared charges to make arrests related to WikiLeaks publishing tens of thousands of military documents leaked by Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
CNN specifically reported WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been living in a small room in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, was the subject of forthcoming arrest charges.
The Post reported multiple members of the WikiLeaks group were being targeted as prosecutors draft a memo laying out the charges. Possible charges include “conspiracy, theft of government property or violating the Espionage Act.” However, officials told the Post that the memo is still incomplete, and would need authorization from the highest levels of the Justice Department.
In recent months, the US hoped a new government in Ecuador would expel Assange from the embassy so he could be arrested. However, Ecuadorian President-elect Lenin Moreno, the apparent victor in the country’s recent election, has told Assange he can stay at the embassy under certain conditions.
Assange fears that leaving the embassy could his result in arrest by UK police and being extradited over an arrest warrant on rape allegations filed against him in Sweden.
“We’ve had no communication with the Department of Justice and they have not indicated to me that they have brought any charges against Mr. Assange,” Pollack said, according to CNN. “There’s no reason why WikiLeaks should be treated differently from any other publisher.”
In August last year, Pollack wrote to then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch demanding the DOJ drop its investigation and declare no pending criminal charges against Assange, according to WikiLeaks. The letter cited a January 2015 policy change within the DOJ, as well as the July 2016 public announcement by FBI Director James Comey that a criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton over the handling of classified information had concluded and no prosecution was recommended.
The new DOJ policy adopted in January 2015 barred the DOJ from seeking a grand jury indictment of a news media member, or filing information against such a person when the suspected crime was committed “in the course of, or arising out of, newsgathering activities” unless notice had been first provided to the Director of the Office of Public Affairs along with “the express authorization of the Attorney General.”
Pollack claimed in his letter that WikiLeaks published the leaks from 2010, because it believed they had news value. Proof of the claim, he said, was apparent in third-party media coverage of the revelations. Pollack denied any unlawful intent such as aiding enemies of the US.
In a recent Op-Ed published by the Washington Post, Assange said that the motive of WikiLeaks is “identical to that claimed by the New York Times and The Post — to publish newsworthy content.”
“Consistent with the U.S. Constitution, we publish material that we can confirm to be true irrespective of whether sources came by that truth legally or have the right to release it to the media. And we strive to mitigate legitimate concerns, for example by using redaction to protect the identities of at-risk intelligence agents,” Assange wrote.
Several First Amendment rights groups and news outlets have denounced the potential charges, saying that if they can go after WikiLeaks, they could go after journalists from other news organizations.
On Thursday, the WikiLeaks Twitter account tweeted that top French presidential candidates “all vowed to give Assange and/or Snowden citizenship or asylum.”
WikiLeaks also posted a link where donations can be made to the “Julian Assange Defense Fund,” a fund that was set up to cover the legal fees for Assange and other WikiLeaks staff.
Poster Comment:
Candidate Trump Once Said ‘I Love WikiLeaks,’ But His White House Wants Assange in Jail
#1: Justified To: Deckard (#0)
Until they file its only hearsay.
I have notice free thought project has been less than accurate of late. I wonder why?
Justified posted on 2017-04-22 20:51:15 Reply Private Reply
#2: A Pole To: Justified (#1)
The key problem is that Assange neither is an American citizen nor he resided in America.
When American journalist residing in USA reveals some secrets of Iranian government, he cannot be prosecuted for treason by Iran.
Of course it is possible that such prosecution will proceed, but it will be a fundamental public relations disaster. The whole world will see American legal system as absurd and malevolent.
A Pole posted on 2017-04-23 07:04:35 Reply Private Reply
#3: Justified To: A Pole (#2)
Iran can charge Americans for espionage but they have to catch them or get someone to capture them and bring them to Iran to stand trial.
I think the "thing" with Julian is BS but that is just me and I do not know all the facts. All governments are mad that they can not operate in secret any more which in the totality is a good thing. All governments have been doing this since the beginning and socialist and communist countries have been the worst of the lot.
Really what Julian has done is prove that MSM is in bed with governments and not doing their job. The more communist the country the more they control the MSM. Which is what one would expect. The freer the nation the freer the press to do its job but like America we have found that once socialist take over the press its just a propaganda machine for the progressive movement of centralized planning and retribution.
progressives = socialist = communist = fascist = anti liberal = anti freedom
Justified posted on 2017-04-23 10:59:29 Reply Private Reply
#4: A Pole To: Justified (#3)
I am sorry, but Assange IS NOT an American citizen. It is a fact! Methinks the hatred is too much on your mind.
A Pole posted on 2017-04-23 12:32:35 Reply Private Reply
#5: Justified To: A Pole (#4)
Me thinks you did not read my post and yes you stink of American hatred.
Me thinks you need to actually read my post.
Justified posted on 2017-04-23 12:45:50 Reply Private Reply
#6: Operation 40 To: Deckard (#0)
You were always right about the Dumpster, Decker, but Hillary would have been even worse.
Trump has murdered hope and buried the body in broad daylight. So much for "Draining the Swamp".
Donald J. Trump: Liar, Fraud, Idiot. A danger to the world.
Operation 40 posted on 2017-04-23 17:27:35 Reply Private Reply
#7: Justified To: Operation 40 (#6)
Justified posted on 2017-04-23 17:30:18 Reply Private Reply
#8: Operation 40 To: Justified (#7)
Donald J. Trump is a liar, but even worse, stands for nothing but Donald J. Trump.
Trump Flips On Five Core Campaign Promises In Under 24 Hours
zerohedge.com/news/2017-04-12/trump-flips-five-core-key-campaign-promises-under-24-hours
Do you like the people that this buffoon has surrounded himself with?
Operation 40 posted on 2017-04-23 17:42:44 Reply Private Reply
#9: A Pole To: Justified (#5)
You cannot get a simple idea, that you can be a traitor ONLY to a country to which you belong. A French citizen who does not live in China cannot be prosecuted for betraying China.
And if you agree with the above it does not mean that you hate China.
And you write "methinks" as one word.
A Pole posted on 2017-04-23 17:45:34 Reply Private Reply
#10: Justified To: Operation 40 (#8)
OMG he has let me down!!!/s
He can not walk away and not deal with the world! Im sorry its not possible with out major issues at a later date. He did what he could with out actually doing anything. What is wrong with that?
You act weak like Obama and Clinton and criminals will come out of the wood work to do their dastardly deeds. He let the world know he would kick some ass if he has to and that nothing is off the table. This scares the shit of people and they will settle down with out actually having to start a war.
Justified posted on 2017-04-23 18:06:42 Reply Private Reply
#11: Justified To: A Pole (#9)
Methinks you need to stop acting like a child and except facts.
BTW thanks of English lesson. Im big enough to admit when im wrong.
Justified posted on 2017-04-23 18:11:05 Reply Private Reply
#12: Operation 40 To: Justified (#10)
Original Tweet: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/786201435486781440
I know it's tough to acknowledge you've been had by YET ANOTHER con artist.
Maybe the next politician won't turn out to be a fraud and a liar.
Of course, probably best not to hold your breath.
And so it goes, Most Americans were fooled again.
Operation 40 posted on 2017-04-23 18:57:58 Reply Private Reply
#13: Justified To: Operation 40 (#12)
Why are you so eager to jump ship because someone that has done nothing but lie to you from the start says hey believe me he said or did this?
No wonder the GOP and right always lose. They are always jumping ship at that thought of something happening!!
Justified posted on 2017-04-23 19:16:51 Reply Private Reply
#14: Operation 40 To: Justified (#13)
I'm not GOP or Right or D-rat or Left. I'm an American that demands accountability and I've totally and completely had it with scumbags like Trump. The country is in the sh*tter, our major cities look like Tijuana. Ever seen Dubai? That could have been the US. But the Dumpster is flinging missiles into Syria, spending more billions on a bloated "defense" budget and flip flopping on the promises he made. He's a louse. Hope that helps.
Operation 40 posted on 2017-04-23 20:21:35 Reply Private Reply
#15: Justified To: Operation 40 (#14)
Justified posted on 2017-04-23 20:43:48 Reply Private Reply
#16: Operation 40 To: Justified (#15)
Have a nice next 4 years.
Operation 40 posted on 2017-04-23 22:00:18 Reply Private Reply
#17: Gatlin To: Operation 40, Justified (#14)
You demand… You demand accountability.….eh? LMAO. Just who in the Hell do you think you are demanding accountability from? Are they listening to you? Hell no! Not with your attitude and outlook on life. Change it and work within the system to improve the system, and they will. What have they done to comply with your demands? Nothing….right? They don’t listen to pissing moaning cry babies. Look at the loud mouth shits at the town hall meetings around the country. You sound just like them. You all only care about yourselves. Geeze….you are just a damned blow hard. Come to realize that … You’ve had it with scumbags like Trump….huh? Well, here is a news flash for you, sport….you are going to have some more of it. Three years and 275 days to be exact more of it….and probably 4 more years after that. So you damned well better learn to live with it….for that’s all you can do, nothing else. Shooting your loud mouth off on LF will do nothing for you. Well, maybe venting and making yourself feel like a big man will help you somewhat. What happened to your beloved weed….doesn’t that even make you happy and content anymore? That bad for you….huh? America is in the sitter….eh? God, you must be one miserable pessimistic POS, hating to see the golden sunrise each morning. Then you should just man up and take the fucking “Purple Pill” and end it! If that’s all you see, our great nation looking like Dubai. How can you live with it….put yourself out of misery. Do you think anyone cares or will miss you? With your shitty attitude, I figure they will not … You potheads are all alike….whiney cry babies who can only piss and moan between your hits on the bong.As for me …
Gatlin posted on 2017-04-23 22:16:05 Reply Private Reply
#18: Justified To: Operation 40 (#16)
He has delivered quiet a bit. More than anyone could hope for from any candidate.. He has stumbled on healthcare. You take hearsay as gospel and throw him and the chance to kick the ever loving shit out of the progressives out the door?
Like I said no wonder the right loses all the time because they run at the first hiccup.
Justified posted on 2017-04-23 23:08:46 Reply Private Reply
#19: Deckard To: Operation 40 (#14)
Trump's plan to "Make America Great Again" and "Jail Hillary" were just empty campaign promises fed to the ignorant rubes, but really not any different in substance than "Hope and Change".
Of course the St. Donald Fanboys will never admit this.
So what if he's reneged on virtually every promise he made? As long as he drops bombs on the "bad guys".
Oh - and why is Bannon out and Kushner in?
Deckard posted on 2017-04-23 23:51:34 Reply Private Reply
#20: Deckard To: Gatlin, Operation 40 (#17)
Oh for Pete's sake!! Are you freaking serious?
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."
Deckard posted on 2017-04-23 23:54:09 Reply Private Reply
#21: Gatlin To: Deckard (#20)
Go Donald….”MAGA.”
Gatlin posted on 2017-04-24 00:31:29 Reply Private Reply