Assange news

Here are some recent news updates about Julian Assange:

Latest Developments:

• On January 4, 2022, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a new indictment against Julian Assange, charging him with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for his alleged role in helping Chelsea Manning, a former US Army intelligence analyst, access and leak classified information to WikiLeaks in 2010. (Source: The New York Times)
• In December 2021, Assange's legal team filed a motion to dismiss the new indictment, arguing that it is based on a flawed legal theory and that Assange's actions were protected by the First Amendment. (Source: The Guardian)
• In November 2021, the UK government announced that it would not extradite Assange to the United States, citing concerns about his mental health and the risk of suicide. However, the US government has appealed this decision, and the case is ongoing. (Source: BBC News)

Background:

• Julian Assange is the founder of WikiLeaks, a whistleblowing website that publishes classified and sensitive information.
• In 2010, Assange and WikiLeaks released a large cache of classified documents related to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, which were leaked by Chelsea Manning.
• In 2012, Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he remained for seven years before being arrested in 2019.
• In 2020, Assange was found guilty of breaching bail conditions and sentenced to 50 weeks in prison. He was also facing extradition to the United States to face charges related to the WikiLeaks leaks.

International Reaction:

• The international community has been divided on the Assange case, with some countries and organizations calling for his release and others supporting the US government's efforts to prosecute him.
• The United Nations has called for Assange's release, citing concerns about his health and the potential for political persecution.
• The European Union has also expressed concerns about the Assange case, with some member states calling for his release and others supporting the US government's efforts to prosecute him.

Impact on Press Freedom:

• The Assange case has raised concerns about press freedom and the protection of sources, with many journalists and media organizations arguing that the charges against Assange are an attack on the principles of journalism.
• The case has also highlighted the risks faced by whistleblowers and journalists who publish sensitive information, and has sparked debates about the balance between national security and press freedom.