US Lawmakers Urge Biden to Pardon Assange

Facts

• US Pres. Joe Biden has been urged by two congressmen to pardon WikiLeaks publisher and founder Julian Assange, it was revealed this week. Earlier this year, Assange entered a plea deal in which he admitted a single violation of the US Espionage Act in exchange for his release from UK imprisonment.^[1][2]
• In a letter dated Nov. 1, James McGovern (D-Mass.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told Biden they 'appreciated' Assange's release, but said they were 'deeply concerned' that his guilty plea sets a precedent that opens the door to further prosecutions of journalists and whistleblowers.^[1]
• The pair argued that, '[p]ut simply,' section 793 of the Espionage Act 'could be used against journalists and news organizations engaged in their normal activities, particularly those who cover national security topics.'^[1]
• The plea deal reached with the US Department of Justice in June ends Assange's 14-year legal struggle with the US government, which saw seven years of confinement in Ecuador's London embassy, followed by imprisonment in Britain's Belmarsh prison from April 2019.^[3][4]
• Assange and his family have advocated for his official pardon since his release to his native Australia. This week, his wife Stella Assange and brother Gabriel Shipton were in Canberra lobbying Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his farewell conversation with Biden.^[5]
• The Pardon Assange campaign petition states: 'By granting a pardon to Julian Assange, President Biden can not only correct a grave injustice but also send a powerful message that defending democracy and press freedom remains at the core of his presidency.'^[1][6]

Sources: ^[1]Guardian (a), ^[2]Guardian (b), ^[3]Doughty Street Chambers, ^[4]Associated Press, ^[5]Lismore City News and ^[6]Assange Campaign.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by United States Department of Justice. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange admitted to his involvement in an Espionage Act conspiracy and received a sentence of 62 months in prison, with credit for time already served. WikiLeaks published significant raw, classified material without redacting any personally identifiable information, thereby putting serving military personnel at risk. Assange deserved to face the consequences for his illegal actions.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Assange Campaign. Julian Assange was the first publisher convicted under the US Espionage Act for disclosing American military war crimes on June 26, 2024. While Julian is now free, the struggle for press freedom continues, as this verdict sets a dangerous precedent, putting journalists at risk if they expose government wrongdoing. By granting Julian Assange a pardon, President Biden would reaffirm America's role as a global leader in press freedom and the defense of human rights.

Predictions