WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Charged in 18-Count Superseding Indictment | OPA | Department of Justice
He was charged legally by a grand jury with criminally obtaining classified material. To me, that isn't "journalism" of the common sort. It sounds like a crime, to me, if he's guilty. He's going to appeal the extradition and stay in British prison a while longer, instead of US prison.
I actually read the 18 count superseding indictment. Did you? It's complete and utter bullsh*t. Paper tissue thin that falls apart at the seams when you examine it. It's clear as day to me by your comments, that when it comes to current events as usual, you have no clue what you're talking about.
WikiLeaks WAS and is a publisher and Julian was and is a journalist- the first amendment does not classify what is or isn't a publisher or journalist...ANYONE can practice journalism or publishing...you don't need a license or special classification. Literally ANYONE can practice journalism or publishing.
Furthermore WikiLeaks did
NOT criminally obtain anything. Bradley Manning- who had a top secret security clearance- used his clearance to search through classified documents on US military databases- downloaded 750,000+ classified documents over 5 months and then gave WikiLeaks all the documents & footage- which WikiLeaks published on US war crimes related to torture and collateral murders in Iraq & Afghanistan, & Guantanamo Bay. WHICH by the way....New York Times and Washington Post ALSO published much of this material. Where are the indictments on them for "unauthorized disclosure of national defense information" ?
The indictment is charging Assange with collaborating with Manning. With zero evidence behind that charge. It's a bullsh*t conspiracy charge which they could never prove. They are claiming in their indictment that Assange was part of a conspiracy simply because Assange told Manning "curious eyes never run dry" when Manning said that's all the documents he could find. HOLD THE F***KING PHONES! A JOURNALIST ENCOURAGED A SOURCE TO GET MORE DOCS! NO F***KING WAY.
DoJ claimed Assange agreed to help Manning crack a password. That is an obvious lie. The DoJ knows that is a lie. They know that's a lie because they clarify their claim in the indictment later. Manning had top secret clearance...Manning ALREADY had access to all the documents he stole. What Assange and Manning were trying to crack is a password HASH...which would've given anonymous access to Manning to keep looking for evidence of US war crimes. Cracking that password hash wouldn't have given Manning any extra access to find more classified documents....he already had a top secret clearance and ALREADY had complete access to all the documents he stole. The DoJ ADMITS this in their own indictment.
Count 1 tries to charge him with "intent to willfully communicate documents that relate to the national defense" - ie
PUBLISHING. Counts 9-17 return to...
PUBLISHING. The crime? "Unauthorized disclosure of national defense information" - the New York Times or WaPost will commit that crime multiple times TODAY. That's TEN COUNTS directly tied to publishing...you know
THE FIRST F***KING AMENDMENT.Oh yeah, not to mention- the FEDs star witness to backup the claim Assange tried to help hack a password hash that would help Manning stay annonymous- Siggi Thordarson- has completely recanted his testimony and admits he lied and committed perjury and fabricated aspects of his testimony Assange.
Wake up. Pay attention.
