.Julian Assange: Wikileaks founder fears he could be arrested
The 39 year-old told journalists at the Frontline Club last night that US government insiders had informed him about discussions to charge him as a co-conspirator to espionage.
The discussions were later dropped.
Mr Assange says despite this he still fears he is at risk of being forcefully detained by the US government as a material witness in the prosecution of US intelligence analyst Bradley Manning.
Mr Manning, 22, was arrested in Baghdad in May and charged earlier this month with multiple counts of mishandling and leaking classified data, after a computer hacker turned him in.
In the United States an authority has the right to detain and hold a material witness for an indefinite period to ensure they give their testimony in a criminal investigation.
The Wikileaks founder said: "Today the White House put out a private briefing to reporters about Wikileaks and me and it quoted a section from an interview with me in Der Spiegel saying that I enjoy crushing --------.
"Somehow the White House finds that offensive.
"In terms of returning to the United States I don't know. Our sources advise from inside the US government that there were thoughts of whether I could be charged as a co-conspirator to espionage, which is serious.
"That doesn't seem to be the thinking within the United States any more however there is the other possibility of being detained as a material witness and being kept either in confinement or not being allowed to leave the country until the Manning case is concluded."
He also claimed that Bradley Manning is being held in a secluded facility in Kuwait which he says is like "a second Guantanamo Bay".
He also accused the US government of doing this to "hide" Mr Manning from effective civil representation.
If convicted Bradley Manning, who is also awaiting court martial, faces a maximum of 52 years in jail.
Telegraph
The discussions were later dropped.
Mr Assange says despite this he still fears he is at risk of being forcefully detained by the US government as a material witness in the prosecution of US intelligence analyst Bradley Manning.
Mr Manning, 22, was arrested in Baghdad in May and charged earlier this month with multiple counts of mishandling and leaking classified data, after a computer hacker turned him in.
In the United States an authority has the right to detain and hold a material witness for an indefinite period to ensure they give their testimony in a criminal investigation.
The Wikileaks founder said: "Today the White House put out a private briefing to reporters about Wikileaks and me and it quoted a section from an interview with me in Der Spiegel saying that I enjoy crushing --------.
"Somehow the White House finds that offensive.
"In terms of returning to the United States I don't know. Our sources advise from inside the US government that there were thoughts of whether I could be charged as a co-conspirator to espionage, which is serious.
"That doesn't seem to be the thinking within the United States any more however there is the other possibility of being detained as a material witness and being kept either in confinement or not being allowed to leave the country until the Manning case is concluded."
He also claimed that Bradley Manning is being held in a secluded facility in Kuwait which he says is like "a second Guantanamo Bay".
He also accused the US government of doing this to "hide" Mr Manning from effective civil representation.
If convicted Bradley Manning, who is also awaiting court martial, faces a maximum of 52 years in jail.
Telegraph
posted by madtom at 9:29 PM
5 Comments:
maybe a few dozen years in prison would make this dumbass understand what classfied stuff is all about.
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/02/taliban-seeks-vengeance-in-wake-of-wikileaks.html
After a fair but quick trial, time to dust off the blindfolds and shoot all involved. I wonder if they would be allowed final cigarettes as was the custom?
I have to say, Newsweek is not usually one of your favorite sources
The source has nothing to do with it, but I happened to be looking to read what could be the final words of Newsweak. There are other stories and blogs that support the fact that people who have aided the US military efforts in Afghanistan are being exposed and murdered for their efforts because some punk decided his judgment was superior. He and those who aided him are guilty of treason and murder and should be dealt with accordingly. And those responsible for putting such a punk in the position to handle such material in the way he did should be out on their asses with dishonorable discharges. This goes beyond revealing embarrassing policies or actions that could theoretically damage US interests.
Well if it is just like you said, and names were released, I have to agree. Take'm out back and shoot them. But I just find it hard to believe the DoD could be this stupid or careless....I think they released the names of those that refused to cooperate, and the DoD is riding this guy just like his boyfriend did.
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