The Department of Justice just announced that it is charging WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange “in connection with a federal charge of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for agreeing to break a password to a classified U.S. government computer”:
Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, charged in computer hacking conspiracy. Click here for copy of the indictment: https://t.co/9JItxR6VRX
— U.S. Attorney EDVA (@EDVAnews) April 11, 2019
This relates to Chelsea Manning with the government alleging that Assange helped Manning break a password to steal documents. He is not being charged for publishing the material:
BREAKING / NBC NEWS: The indictment unsealed against Julian Assange shows an allegation that he helped Chelsea Manning crack a password and get access to documents she would not normally have had access to. It is not for publishing the material.
— Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) April 11, 2019
“It quashes some of the concerns about this being a crackdown on the free press”:
The charges focus on Assange technically assisting Manning's hacking, making the charges more about Assange the hacker than Assange the journalist. It quashes some of the concerns about this being a crackdown on the free press. https://t.co/rHpE1MQHOp
— Axios (@axios) April 11, 2019
More here:
Just In: The Justice Department says that Assange is being charged for assisting Chelsea Manning in hacking.
“Assange engaged in a conspiracy with Chelsea Manning to assist Manning in cracking a password stored on DOD computers connected to the Secret Internet Protocol Network” pic.twitter.com/DBs3pN4uGm
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) April 11, 2019
And we expect more charges will follow:
Trump administration releases charges for Julian Assange. This is related to his role in the Manning leak in 2010.
Expect other charges to come. https://t.co/kZII2Ntp9X
— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) April 11, 2019
Response from Assange’s legal team:
US Attorney for Assange, Barry Pollack statement on Assange arrest on behalf of the US in relation to 2010 publications: pic.twitter.com/a3hC6aLg7A
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 11, 2019
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Related:
'Ma'am, this is a Wendy's': Pamela Anderson tears into Donald Trump over arrest of Julian Assange https://t.co/8SpzxxHPhX
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 11, 2019
WATCH: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange evicted from Ecuadorian embassy in London and arrested https://t.co/PbuyXcET06
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 11, 2019
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