Mixed reviews from US politicians, commentators on Assange plea deal
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s new-found freedom drew mixed reactions from conservative and liberal US politicians.
Julian Assange has been prohibited from entering the United States without permission, as his new-found freedom drew mixed reaction from conservative and liberal politicians.
It does not appear Assange will attempt to visit the US anytime soon, having flown to the remote US island territory of Saipan to enter his guilty plea on “conspiracy to obtain and disseminate national defence information” to avoid touching down on the mainland.
Former US vice-president Mike Pence, a moderate Republican, criticised the Biden administration’s plea deal with the Australian, labelling it a “miscarriage of justice”.
“Julian Assange endangered the lives of our troops in a time of war and should have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he wrote on social media.
“The Biden administration’s plea deal with Assange is a miscarriage of justice and dishonours the service and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces and their families.
“There should be no plea deals to avoid prison for anyone that endangers the security of our military or the national security of the United States. Ever.”
Other US political figures, from both sides of the political spectrum, welcomed the news.
Cornel West, an independent US presidential candidate, wrote on social media, “My dear brother Julian Assange is free!”
Hard-right politician Marjorie Taylor Greene said the video of Assange boarding a flight out of the UK “an incredible sight … Julian Assange walking FREE outdoors!”
Another independent presidential candidate and anti-establishment figure, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, said: “I am overjoyed. He’s a generational hero.”
Joe Biden, who appeared to have been “considering” Assange’s release since at least April, Donald Trump, who was in power when Assange was indicted, and Hillary Clinton, who was the subject of some WikiLeaks documents, have not weighed into the public debate.
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson said Assange was “a good man … finally freed”, adding “the tide is turning”. Political commentator for CNN and former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger wrote on social media that “Assange was a traitor”.
An editorial in the Wall Street Journal was titled “Julian Assange is no hero” – telling readers not to “fall for the idea that Mr Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is a persecuted ‘publisher’”.
A statement issued by the US Justice Department Office of Public Affairs said: “Assange is prohibited from returning to the United States without permission”.
“Julian P. Assange, 52, the founder of WikiLeaks, pleaded guilty today to conspiring with Chelsea Manning, at that time a US Army intelligence analyst, to unlawfully obtain and disclose classified documents relating to the national defence. After obtaining classified national defence information from Manning, and aware of the harm that dissemination of such national defence information would cause, Assange disclosed this information on WikiLeaks.
“The guilty plea concludes a criminal matter that dates back to March 2018, when Assange was first indicted in the eastern district of Virginia Following the imposition of sentence, he will depart the United States for his native Australia. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Assange is prohibited from returning to the United States without permission.”
Julian Assange endangered the lives of our troops in a time of war and should have been prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The Biden administration’s plea deal with Assange is a miscarriage of justice and dishonors the service and sacrifice of the men and women of our…
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) June 25, 2024
Julian Assange struck a plea deal and will go free! I am overjoyed. He's a generational hero.
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 24, 2024
The bad news is that he had to plea guilty to conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense info. Which means the US security state succeeded in criminalizing journalism and…
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