How Julian Assange did the unthinkable, brought AOC and MTG on to the same team
WASHINGTON, DC: In an unexpected display of unity, MAGA Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and leftwing Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have joined forces with 14 other members of the US Congress to advocate for the cessation of extradition attempts against Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
The case against Julian Assange called for bipartisan urgency
In a letter addressed directly to President Joe Biden on November 8, the bipartisan group expressed deep concerns over the potential repercussions of pursuing Assange's extradition and urged the immediate halt of all prosecutorial proceedings against him, as per the Washington Examiner.
It's worth noting that Greene and Ocasio-Cortez are usually on the extreme ends of the political spectrum when it comes to policy or ideology, but it seems the congresswomen found common ground in Assange's plight.
"It is the duty of journalists to seek out sources, including documentary evidence, in order to report to the public on the activities of government," read the bipartisan letter.
It added, "The United States must not pursue an unnecessary prosecution that risks criminalizing common journalistic practices and thus chilling the work of the free press. We urge you to ensure that this case be brought to a close in as timely a manner as possible."
Julian Assange's legal battle over leaked classified US military documents
Julian Assange, who has been detained in London's Belmarsh Prison since 2019, is currently awaiting extradition to the US. The charges against him stem from the publication of classified US military documents and diplomatic cables over a decade ago.
The bipartisan letter emphasized the potential severity of the charges against Assange as he faces 17 counts under the 1917 Espionage Act, including receiving, possessing, and communicating classified information to the public, along with a charge alleging a conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.
Notably, the charges brought against Assange are intricately tied to the actions of former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning.
In 2010, Manning leaked classified US military documents to WikiLeaks, including cables detailing alleged war crimes committed by the government in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention camp.
The leaked materials also exposed instances of the CIA allegedly engaging in torture and rendition.
One of the notable releases was the "Collateral Murder" video, published by WikiLeaks 13 years ago, depicting the US military allegedly gunning down civilians in Iraq, including two Reuters journalists. Manning's actions led to Assange's involvement in disseminating the leaked information.
If convicted, Assange could face a maximum sentence of up to 175 years in an American maximum-security prison.
The bipartisan appeal noted that the case against him has raised "deep concerns" among international media outlets, human rights advocates, and members of Congress.
An eyebrow-raising mix of politicians signed the letter, including Rep Rashida Tlaib, who is currently censured, and fellow "Squad" members Ilhan Omar and Jamaal Bowman. Notably, the list also includes Republicans like Sen Rand Paul and Rep Thomas Massie, showcasing a rare moment of bipartisan solidarity on this issue.
Diplomatic implications highlighted in the bipartisan letter
The letter underscored the potential diplomatic fallout, warning that the pursuit of Julian Assange's extradition could harm America's bilateral relationship with Australia, given that Assange is an Australian citizen who has never been to the US.
It stated, "We note that the 1917 Espionage Act was ostensibly intended to punish and imprison government employees and contractors for providing or selling state secrets to enemy governments, not to punish journalists and whistleblowers for attempting to inform the public about serious issues that some US government officials might prefer to keep secret."
The appeal also drew attention to a pivotal decision during the Obama administration in 2013, when Joe Biden was Vice President and the Justice Department opted against prosecuting Assange due to concerns about its potential impact on press freedom, as reported by the Washington Post.
This decision was commended "because it recognized that the prosecution would set a dangerous precedent," as per the Washington Examiner.