Tag: WikiLeaks

“The American public needed urgently to know what was being done routinely in their name, and there was no other way for them to learn it than by unauthorized disclosure.”

“I find that the mental condition of Mr. Assange is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America.”

While the decision is a “very significant victory” for Assange, the judge has largely sided with the U.S. prosecution.

The many mainstream journalists cheering on his extradition may come to regret in the future when the American government comes for them or their sources.

On top of Assange’s individual case, the current health crisis is expanding the surveillance state in ways likely not dreamed of by authorities in most countries until this very moment.

The United States is still seeking Assange’s extradition to the U.S., where he faces up to 175 years in prison on hacking charges and 17 counts of violating the World War I-era Espionage Act.

Corporate media dutifully laid the groundwork for the U.S. Department of Justice’s escalating political persecution of the WikiLeaks founder, and set the stage for a renewed assault on a free and independent press by the Trump administration.

"Why is it acceptable for the United States to have the power to even begin to give even a proposal to extradite somebody whose crime is to expose to the public materials that people in power don’t want them to see?"

"While disappointing, we can still raise issues as the government continues to abuse the grand jury process."

My Swedish friend is sitting in a jail cell.