Opinion
Jake Sanders, Associate Editor
Julian Assange, the co-founder of WikiLeaks, has agreed to admit guilt to a single charge under the Espionage Act related to his involvement in gathering and releasing classified military and diplomatic documents between 2009 and 2011. What implications does this decision have for press freedom globally?
Although it is a positive development that the US Department of Justice seems to be concluding the Assange case, it is concerning that the Biden administration insisted on a guilty plea concerning the alleged offense of acquiring and disseminating government secrets. This is a fundamental responsibility that investigative journalists regularly undertake.
According to Seth Stern, the director of advocacy for the Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), the plea arrangement may not establish a legal precedent like a court ruling would, but it will still cast a shadow over journalists covering national security matters for years to come. It is seen as a symbolic move that legitimizes the criminalization of standard journalistic practices and sets a worrisome example for future administrations.
In the words of the late journalist John Pilger, describing his dedicated colleague, who considered his work a moral obligation: “Assange embarrassed those who were pursuing him. He consistently unveiled groundbreaking revelations, exposing the deceit behind media-promoted wars and the deadly nature of America’s military conflicts, as well as the corruption of authoritarian leaders and the atrocities of Guantanamo.”
The pressing query now is: How much longer can Julian Assange persist in his campaign for truth? WikiLeaks exists solely to seek justice. Its mission is to achieve justice by informing the public about ongoing events, making sure ordinary individuals are aware of the schemes of those in power over their lives. To call this rarely-seen form of journalism a brave endeavor would be a significant understatement.
During an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Assange confirmed that Russia did not provide him with the Podesta documents or any materials from the DNC.
The leaked information from the emails significantly damaged the Clinton campaign and is believed to have played a role in her defeat to Trump in the general election.
At this juncture in Assange’s life, it is a pertinent question whether he will persist in challenging authority or opt for a well-deserved break from the perilous realm of exposing the truth.
A notable example is the case of Seth Rich, a 27-year-old former Democratic National Committee member who was fatally shot on a Washington, DC street on July 10, 2016, just before the presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. During an interview with the Dutch news program Nieuwsuur, Assange implies that Rich may have been the one who leaked DNC emails to WikiLeaks, rather than the Russians as widely reported by the entire US media establishment.
Assange stated, “There’s a 27-year-old working for the DNC who was shot and killed just a few weeks ago in Washington under unclear circumstances as he was walking down the street. I am suggesting that our sources take risks and they become concerned to see things like that happening… We need to recognize the high stakes in the United States, and our sources take significant risks, which is why they come to us so we can safeguard their anonymity.”
Assange is likely to continue the good fight for freedom of the press, I look forward to the next chapters in his incredible and courageous story.